Hoeneß declares February the 'month of decision' for Bayern

A critical month ahead

With January now in the past, and the transfer window slammed shut, Bayern now face a defining stretch. Having missed out on direct qualification for the Champions League round of 16, the Bavarians must first navigate a playoff against Celtic. Making the challenge tougher, a high-stakes Bundesliga clash against title rivals Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena looms large.

“No question, February will be the month of decision,” Hoeneß told t-online.de. However, the 73-year-old remains confident in his beloved club's position. 

"I have the feeling that we are now more stable, at least in the league. Talking about the treble all the time is nonsense. The most important title is the German championship.

Bundesliga the main goal

Hoeneß was keen to emphasise that winning the Bundesliga remains the top priority for Bayern, drawing upon notable comparisons to Borussia Dortmund's current struggles. 

"No one at Dortmund is talking about advancing in the Champions League, because their league results simply haven't been good enough,' he said. 

“They are 22 points behind Bayern. The Bundesliga title is the ultimate benchmark. If we win the league, we have achieved our main goal.”

Hoeneß also went on to acknowledge the fact that Bayer Leverkusen have emerged as a serious contender, despite Bayern currently sitting at the top of the standings. 

“I have always firmly believed that we will win the title, however, it is now clear that Leverkusen will likely remain our biggest competitor until the very end. They are an excellent team.”

Pivotal clash at the top

The title aspirations of both Bayern and Leverkusen will be put to the test on the 15th of February when they clash at the BayArena in a pivotal top-of-the-table showdown.

“If we go into that match with a six-point lead and a strong goal difference, we'll be in a good position,” Hoeneß said.

The clash itself is sandwiched between Bayern's European commitments, with the first leg against Celtic taking place on the 12th of February, and the return leg on the 18th. Despite the packed schedule, Hoeneß remains defiant in his approach. 

“I am not going to Leverkusen to lose. But even if we do, with a six-point cushion, we would still be in a strong position.”

As Bayern enter a decisive phase of the campaign, the club's ability to handle pressure will be tested under the guidance of manager Vincent Kompany. With Bayer Leverkusen carrying the aim of well and truly heating the title race up, alongside Bayern's hopes of domestic and continental success, February could indeed be the month that defines their campaign.