5 Things Xherdan Shaqiri Must Do to Take His Game Forward in 2014/15 Season

Bayern Munich are undoubtedly blessed with one of the strongest and most comprehensive squads within European football today. Yet that in itself comes at a price when we consider the continued progress of some of the club's fringe players. 

One backup player in particular is 22-year-old Xherdan Shaqiri, the former tricky Basel midfielder who has spent the best part of his time in Munich sitting on a bench and waiting for his chance to shine for Germany's biggest club. 

Yet the real problem that faces this young Swiss international is that few would deem the midfielder good enough to start for Bayern. Franck Ribery, Mario Gotze or Arjen Robben, he ain't. 

Here are five things Shaqiri can do to bring his game forward this season and hopefully push himself toward contention in such a side.

1. Fix His Attitude

Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

Confidence seems to be a precursor to success in the modern game of football, and this unfortunate personality flaw is undoubtedly one of the few notable problems that Shaqiri clearly suffers from in one game to the next. 

Unlike other youngsters in his position at the club, the attacking midfielder already made his name at Basel from a very young age and was very quickly established as a star player for his national team. 

This has led to a situation at Bayern whereby it would seem as though Shaqiri has a certain level of expectation to play for the club despite never really deserving it. 

Add to that his constant flirting with possible transfers out of the club, most recently at the start of the month, per Express writer Jamie Anderson, when he quite openly stated: "My contract runs until 2016 and I could possibly extend it. I will consider my decision during the winter break.”

Before this player starts scoring goals for Bayern, he'll have to learn to respect the hierarchy of the squad and stop acting as though he is entitled to a spot in the team. 

2. Keep Fit

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

OK, we admit it: This isn't exactly something we can blame Shaqiri for. But it is still undoubtedly one of the factors that has, until now, gotten in the young player's way of progressing in this Bayern squad. 

In last season's Bundesliga, Shaqiri started on the Bayern bench a grand total of 11 times, as manager Pep Guardiola opted to start others before him. Yet he was ruled out of the squad entirely with injury in a further 13. 

Similarly, the Swiss international missed all but four games from the Bavarian club's Champions League campaign, playing a grand total of 43 minutes in domestic football's most prestigious competition. 

In the modern game, a player has to spend just as much time ensuring that he's perfectly fit and not carrying little injuries that can develop into long-term problems for him and his club. Perhaps if Shaqiri was a little more careful around the training ground he may have been involved in more games last season. 

3. Open Up His Game

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

When we look through this Bayern team, there is one thing that we can say of almost all its star players: They can play a number of positions at any level in the game. 

From makeshift sweeper Manuel Neuer, former full-back and now central midfielder Philipp Lahm and former left winger Bastian Schweinsteiger to the false-nine attacking prowess of attacking midfielder Mario Gotze—each of these world-class stars makes himself available to Guardiola in a number of different ways. 

Yet unfortunately, we still find Shaqiri labelled as nothing more than a jinky winger or pacey attacking midfielder. Qualities and a sense of definition that would perhaps suit him perfectly well at a simpler club, but in the static world of Guardiola—with different formations and systems each week—this young player will have to quickly learn how to play a number of positions just as well as his first. 

4. Develop That Killer Ball

Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

According to Transfermarkt.co.uk, Shaqiri has amassed a grand total of eight assists in 46 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern. 

Now this pitiful tally may seem a little unfair to judge considering the fact that the midfielder tends to come on when games have already run their course and with little time at all to create chances, but it does lend itself to the concept that Shaqiri's final ball simply isn't good enough. 

From day one, Bayern fans have been made well aware of the Swiss international's ability to skip past any opponent and his love for hitting long-range shots, but one aspect of his game that certainly seems to hold him back is that final pass once he's made short work of any nearby defenders. 

Despite the players on show in Guardiola's side, the likes of Ribery, Gotze and even Thiago Alcantara are valued for their ability to consistently set up other players in the final third. It's their passing that pierces a defence, not their dribbling or endless tricks. This is something that Shaqiri simply doesn't do enough of if he wants to be considered for the starting XI. 

5. Leave Bayern Munich

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Our fifth and final suggestion to this young, talented attacking midfielder is to simply make an executive decision for the sake of his career and move on to a club that can offer him first-team football. 

Yes, we criticised Shaqiri's moans in the transfer window, but we want to see a quick, decisive move that will see this player once again become a strong, necessary part of an attacking side. 

Signed under Jupp Heynckes' former reign, Bayern has since gone from a quick, counter-attacking side to one that tends to hold onto possession and, as such, rely on entirely different types of players. The attacking midfielder is an exceptional talent, and at just 22 years old, he has his entire career ahead of him. 

If he isn't suitable for Bayern's style of play—which seems more noticeable from one day to the next—then the single most important thing to do at this point would be to cut his losses and find another club.