Politologist and head of the Eastern European Studies Center Laurynas Kasčiūnas - one of the most well-known fans of the Munich's "Bayern" team in Lithuania.
The most visited country's football portal "EuroFootball.com" talked with the 33-year-old Vilnius resident about last season's results of the Bundesliga champions, the work done by coach Josep Guardiola and the departure of club legend B. Schweinsteiger.
- You have been supporting the "Bayern" team for several years, how did it all start?
- It all started with players like Lothar Matthaus from the German national team and Bayern Munich.
Support for this club was further strengthened by several articles and books about football history and the time of Gerd Muller and Franz Beckenbauer's "Bayern."
- How do you rate last season's team performance?
- I rate it only satisfactorily. I don't know what could prevent "Bayern" from winning the Bundesliga for another five years in a row, so winning the German championship is not a big achievement.
Everything should be evaluated based on achievements in the Champions League. And there they only reached the semifinals. A team like "Bayern" cannot set a goal to only reach the semifinals. Therefore, I rate the season only satisfactorily.
Moreover, "Bayern's" policy of buying the best players from other German clubs is not the smartest strategy. The weakening of the Bundesliga over time could eventually lead to the weakening of "Bayern" as well.
- Are you satisfied that the team will continue to be led by coach Josep Guardiola?
- No, I am not satisfied. German teams play best when they are led by Germans. I thought that after J. Heynckes' last season, it was possible to create another era of "Bayern" dominance in Europe with the same team.
Unfortunately, J. Guardiola didn't manage to do that. I think in Guardiola's case, the "brand" appeared to be too good for the actual quality of the product itself.
- Which "Bayern" players do you admire the most?
- First of all - M. Neuer. He is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper in the world right now. Along with him, a revolution in playing at the goal came to football. M. Neuer's game for the German national team against Algeria in the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals should be shown to young goalkeepers as often as possible.
I still don't understand why the 2014 World Cup winner didn't receive the Golden Ball, and the prize went to someone who becomes a completely average player in his national finals or playing against Germans.
Another very favorite player is T. Muller. Although at first glance, he doesn't seem to have something special, but the ability to feel the game, touch the ball when it's most needed, makes him one of the best players in the world. To me, he symbolizes that old German football school, where opponents didn't understand why they were losing to Germans.
- This summer, "Bayern" said goodbye to one of the team's symbols, B. Schweinsteiger. Will this have a big impact on the Munich team?
- Of course, it's not good when such legends leave the club. Only because of such symbols, the club football still doesn't completely turn into pure commerce.
I would like to see more of this non-contractual community connection in football. And Schweinsteiger's departure may only be less of that. And it can also affect the team's game.
