England legend Stuart Pearce thought Bayern Munich’s problems were clear against Manchester City in their Champions League defeat.
Bayern drew 1-1 on the night with Joshua Kimmich cancelling out Erling Haaland’s opener, but it was nowhere near enough after a 3-0 first-leg loss.
The match was Thomas Tuchel’s sixth since replacing Julian Nagelsmann as manager, and was arguably Bayern’s most coherent yet.
Against top opposition, Bayern had more possession, shots, and shots on target, but failed to really threaten Ederson in the City goal, until Joshua Kimmich scored what proved to be a meaningless penalty late in the match.
The Bundesliga giants lost their second-highest ever scorer, Robert Lewandowski, to Barcelona last summer, and his de facto replacement, Sadio Mane, has had a poor start.
On top of that, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was barely noticeable in the defeat, leading Pearce to make a telling observation.
“Bayern look short of someone who can put the ball into the net,” he began. “Dare I say it, it’s like watching Chelsea.”
With chance after chance wasted by Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman, Pearce then turned his attention to an English striker long linked with the German side.
He added: “You can see why Bayern Munich are in the search for a centre forward.
“I think if you put Harry Kane in a red shirt tonight he would have had a field day.”
Pearce did have praise for one player in particular though, despite his profligacy in front of goal.
“Coman tonight has been absolutely on fire,” he said. “At this stage I’m pleased to say as a full-back that I’m retired!
“He’s been so good though, his movement, electric, so quick, his pace…”
