体坛英语新闻：Is Bayern Munich bad for Germany's football?

BERLIN, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Bayern Munich has for decades been Germany's shining star in football. A record-breaking club at all levels most titles, members, money and biggest reputation.

But in advance of their last match in Group E of the 2014/2015 campaign in the Champions League against the Russian side ZSKA Moscow this Wednesday, Bayern again find themselves in the middle of a strange discussion in Germany.

It's all about the fundamental question: Is the dominating club doing harm to Germany's football as many fans regard the Bundesliga as boring as the Bavarians seems to be running out of rivals in their home league?

In 2013 Bayern not only won the "treble" (Champions League, German Cup and the Championship) but the league title earlier than ever before after the 28th game of the 34-match season. In 2014/ 2015 Bayern are yet again topping the league and are already seven points ahead after 14 games. They have not lost a single game and have only conceded three goals.

In a survey commissioned by the internet portal "goal", 52% of the fans said: Bayern makes football boring and is the reason why the gap between "rich and poor" is widening. 48% said no, they are not doing harm to the German game and asked: Where would the German football in general and the German national team be without them?

For decades the club has had to face the envy of many fans after winning 24 championships, the cup on 17 occasions and the Champions League five times. Many fans are convinced, Bayern always bought the best players of other German clubs (for example Robert Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund) to weaken opponents. Meaning: You either love or hate them.

This week, the Berlin-based newspaper, "Die Welt", urged its readers in a piece not to buy Bayern shirts for their kids for Christmas: "Don't make your kids become Bayern fans". It sparked the biggest ever controversy amongst its readers.

When Bayern lost their only game in the Champions League Group E 3-2 to Manchester City, it was seen as being the eighth world wonder. The newspaper headlines the next day all went something like: Guess what, Bayern has lost! VfB Stuttgart's Dutch coach Huub Stevens expressed what many Germans were thinking: "For the Bundesliga, it is not good what is happening. As for the international stage, it's great. A lot of the respect that German football gets comes from Bayern. And, don't forget the national team. Would Germany have won the 2014 World Cup without the Bayern players?"

German League Federation (DFL) boss Christian Seifert denies as well that Bayern is bad for German football. "They have done a lot for the reputation of the Bundesliga for many years," Seifert said.

For the DFL, Bayern is the top act as the federation has started to increase its international marketing. Bayern Munich has also intensified its international operations to gain new fans and merchandising income and will tour China in July 2015 after having visited the United States last summer.

"I know that some would be happy if we'd lose a game or two. But it's not a part of our plans," said Philipp Lahm. The Bayern captain even thinks it might be possible to finish the current league season undefeated which would be another new record.

For Lahm the reason for Bayern's current success is mainly down to the passion of Bayern coach Pep Guardiola. "We have never had that before. We dominate every game and play great football. We don't have bad games every now and again like we did in the past. We now have the feeling we're always playing great. Guardiola comes up with a new tactical system for every game, he' s a sensation," Lahm said.

As Lahm says Bayern don't waste thoughts on the envious feelings of some fans. "Well every club can collect as many points and titles as they can, or am I wrong on that?" Lahm said.After all, the German Bundesliga benefits from Bayern's international success. Based on international success of their clubs, the European leagues can all increase the number of participants in the Champions League.

"For Bayern the aim is of course to win titles, national and international, but we never forget the effect it has for the ranking of the German league as far as Champions League and European League are concerned. Therefore it is important by all means to beat Moscow despite the fact that we are already qualified for the next round as the top of our group," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"You can count on one thing when you talk about Bayern, we always want to win every game," said Bayern Director of Football Matthias Sammer. "And as far as our coach Pep Guardiola is concerned, I can tell you he is dying to win well every game, no matter who we play."