Why Shaqiri Is the Most Disappointing Player for Bayern Munich so Far in 2014/15

When Xherdan Shaqiri joined Bayern Munich in July of 2012, he was seen as the club's next great attacking midfielder, the heir to Franck Ribery. Then 20 years of age, the €11.8 million signing from Basel was one of Europe's most exciting prospects on the wing. And although young and raw, there was reason to believe that in a few years' time he'd be ready to succeed Ribery or Arjen Robben.

Two-and-a-half years later, Shaqiri is a thing of the past in Munich, having sealed a deal to join Inter on a six-month loan before the Italian side sign him on a full transfer in the summer. The Switzerland international showed occasional signs of brilliance during his stay at the Allianz Arena, and notably stood out at the 2014 World Cup, but six more months of struggles after the tournament in Brazil sealed the fate of his Bayern career.

Shaqiri was one of the first players to return to Bayern training and had a real chance to make an impression before the likes of Robben, Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze returned. But he had only minimal impact when given playing time over the first month or so of the campaign and in the first round overall he played (per Transfermarkt) just 540 minutes, scoring and assisting two goals apiece.

According to Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, an ardent supporter of Shaqiri who as recently as August insisted (via Bild, h/t Goal.com) that the attacker was the future of Bayern Munich, Pep Guardiola "did not trust" the player (via Blick, h/t Goal.com). And in fairness, it's understandable why.

What little Shaqiri contributed to Bayern's campaign came in situations of little to no importance. His goals and assists came in four games, won by Bayern by an aggregate 21-1 margin. He scored Bayern's final goal in the 7-1 mauling of Roma and the fourth in a 4-0 hammering of Frankfurt. His assists were of Bayern's fifth against Bremen and third against Hannover.

When trusted with significant playing time, Shaqiri didn't deliver. He played the full 90 minutes on two occasions, the first being a 2-0 loss to Dortmund in the DFL-Superpokal and the second being a 1-1 draw with Schalke. He was substituted off after 66 scoreless minutes against Hamburg, a game that ultimately ended in a draw. Indeed, of the four matches Shaqiri started, Bayern won just two. And in the two they won, the 23-year-old had little impact on the game, especially when the result still was in the balance.

Shaqiri's failure to take advantage of his chances is a big disappointment, especially considering that his performance for Switzerland even in the midst of his latent struggles at Bayern proves that he hasn't exactly stagnated. But the sad reality is, he didn't give Guardiola any reason to trust him.

Shaqiri had his chance to shine early in the campaign, but he didn't and Bayern struggled. After a few weeks, Gotze took advantage and carried the team for awhile. Then it was Robben. Bayern may not need a Cristiano Ronaldo to provide goals every week, but they need someone to step up. Shaqiri didn't, but when he played he did take a spot in the lineup from someone who may have been able to make a difference.

It says a lot that Bayern's biggest disappointment of the 2014-15 season at the halfway mark has been sold and may well be the only full transfer the club completes during the January window. But that's how things go at an ultra-competitive club like Bayern.

Shaqiri may well have a great career at Inter. He may be under less pressure and will be more of a star man in Milan. At Bayern, though, he had two-and-a-half years of development at the club and never was able to justify himself as a worthy successor to Ribery or Robben—especially in the first half of the current season. Now he's gone and Bayern have one less option in attacking midfield. But they also have a full squad of players who, when fit, have lived up to expectations. Not a bad situation for Guardiola as he targets a treble this spring.

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