Basler: Bayern is only five points ahead and the Bundesliga title race is not over yet. Kane can become the best in the world

In an interview on October 20, Basler expressed his views on Bayern's 2-1 victory over Dortmund, the Bundesliga championship situation, Schloterbeck and other topics.

Bayern defeated Dortmund 2-1 last weekend. Honestly, did you think the Bundesliga title was already settled in October?

Well, October hasn’t been decided yet, so that’s a bit too early. A five-point lead isn't enough to make you a champion. It's certainly a big step for Bayern, widening the gap on Dortmund - now seven points. We still have to observe the situation in Leipzig. But I do believe that we will see Bayern become champions relatively early next year, maybe in March or April.

Dortmund, especially head coach Kovac, was obviously dissatisfied after the game. Kovac complained about referee Bastian Dankert after the game, saying he "blown the game into pieces." What do you think of his remarks?

I believe Kovac himself also realized that he made a mistake in his formation. He played too conservatively. He sent a clear signal to Bayern: "We are here just to see if we can get away with a point." Now, of course, they want to put the blame on the referee. If he was referring to that call when Kane scored - if that was disallowed, then every free kick, every corner kick, every situation in the penalty area had to be disallowed because defenders were always pushing. I think Dortmund, and especially Kovac himself, made mistakes. They were completely out of form in the first half and only focused on defense. Now going to the excuse that the referee is the culprit - that's a bit flimsy.

So if it were you, would you form a more aggressive formation?

Of course! When you go to Munich to play, you have nothing to lose. Dortmund were in good form at the time and they had not lost a game this season. So it's a bit hard for me to understand that they played more conservatively than they did in all the previous games. In the end, from Dortmund's point of view, they can be thankful that they only lost 1-2. For me, Dortmund sent the wrong signal.

Despite the loss, Schlotterbeck was still one of Dortmund's best players. There's a lot of talk about his future right now - should he sign a new contract or move on? What advice would you give him?

I would not give him any advice in the first place. In the domestic arena, Schlotterbeck is very good, but what about the international arena? The pressure at Bayern is different from that at Dortmund. Bayern is not a club where "if you lose, well, so be it" - you don't deserve to lose at all. My only question is: Is Schlotterbeck the player who can bring the stability Bayern's defense needs on the international stage? He's a good player, a good centre-back - yes, in the Bundesliga. But internationally, I'm not so sure.

Another player that has attracted much attention in Dortmund is Bellingham Jr. He was signed as a blockbuster signing last summer and now he performed poorly against Bayern with that clearance error. Do you think Bellingham can still fulfill his talent in Dortmund?

Of course he is also under tremendous pressure because of his surname and because his brother has entered world football. Therefore, people naturally have high hopes for the name "Bellingham". I think we just need to give this young man a little more time. Kovac, as well as Dortmund, must at some point send a signal to him that the club trusts him. To have him alternately play, sometimes be taken off, sometimes not considered - that's difficult for a young man. If I sign a player like this as a major signing, then I have to build the team around him. That doesn't seem to be the case in Dortmund at the moment.

Kane, another British player, once again performed well in the national derby. Do you think he can truly compete for the World Footballer of the Year title in the future?

For this, Bayern must go very far in the Champions League. He is an outstanding striker, there is no doubt about it. But to become World Player of the Year, you have to win the Champions League, or at least make a difference - that is, at least reach the semi-finals or even the final. In that case, he certainly has a chance to win the title this season.

Kane's contract runs until 2027. How would you handle it from Bayern's perspective?

He is 32 years old now and will be 34 years old in 2027. I would give him another two-year contract now until 2029 - when he is 36, which I would definitely do. If you give him a reasonable and generous offer now and extend his contract for another two years, it will be a good signal that the club will rely on him for years to come.

What about Neuer? His contract expires in 2026. Should he also renew his contract?

I think that for Neuer, we can wait until January, February, and March next year. Neuer will not change clubs again. If he can keep up his form, and if he feels healthy enough, then another year might be a possibility. He's still in form and he's an outstanding goalkeeper. So: wait until January, February, March, then renew for another year.

Of course, head coach Kompany also contributed a lot. How do you see his development at Bayern?

Everyone was surprised that Kompany became the coach, no one expected him. But I think what he did for Bayern, the way Bayern played, it speaks for itself. The whole team is running, fighting, and in top physical condition. He was completely unexcited during the interview. He is a great person, a great coach and I believe he has a great future at Bayern.

Finally, a topic that has been a hot topic recently: Boateng was allowed to do an internship at Bayern. Kompany wants to give his former colleague the chance, but Bayern fans are already protesting. The club's top management said there was no problem and mentioned the concept of "reintegration into society". How do you evaluate this situation?

There are values ​​in the football world, and when values ​​are trampled on... people always talk about second chances, but sometimes there are exceptions, and then there are no second chances. Boateng's situation is this: he made a serious mistake and must answer for it in court. I think it's difficult. Fans always have a gut feeling about this. I'm a person who likes to give people a second chance, but at Bayern it's very difficult. The fans won't let it go and I'm curious to see how this ends, because it could really cause a huge conflict between the club and the fans.