Germany defender Jerome Boateng said Wednesday there is no need for panic in the Bayern Munich defence despite the German league leaders' shock defeat at Moenchengladbach.
Bayern were humbled 3-1 by Gladbach's attack as rising midfield star Marco Reus and winger Patrick Herrmann, who netted twice, found plenty of space to exploit last Friday.
The defeat means Bayern are now caught in a three-way tie at the top of the table with Munich, defending champions Dortmund and Schalke 04 all locked on 37 points, but the Bavarians stay top on goal difference.
Bayern host mid-table Wolfsburg on Saturday at Munich's Allianz Arena and are eager for a win over the 2009 German champions to boost confidence ahead of next month's Champions League Round of 16 clash against FC Basel.
"There is no need to hit the alarm," said former Manchester City defender Boateng.
"There is still enough quality in our defence."
Against Wolfsburg, Bayern will be without Belgium centre-back Daniel van Buyten, who broke the metatarsal bone in his foot in the defeat at Gladbach.
But there is no denial in Bayern's ranks of their defensive problems with centre-back Holger Badstuber admitting things were not tight enough at the back.
"We left too much space (against Gladbach)," admitted the 22-year-old.
"We need to communicate better, so we can turn off the carelessness."
Things have certainly changed for Bayern's star goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who went 770 minutes last autumn without conceding a goal.
Bayern's problems come from the lack of a settled right-back with coach Jupp Heynckes looking at several options with neither Brazil's Rafinha or Boateng, who is more of a centre-back, making the position their own.
Van Buyten's injury could be a blessing in disguise as Boateng will partner Badstuber in the middle with Rafinha at right-back, opposite captain Philipp Lahm, which will at least give the Munich defence a chance to build a rapport.
Source: AFP
