'Golic' spearheading Bayern’s title challenge

In his post-match comments, Louis van Gaal is generally reluctant to single out individuals for praise. The head coach is no fan of naming names, preferring to focus on the team and the collective effort. “I’m never blown away by individual players, I’m only ever blown away by my team,” he told reporters after last Tuesday’s triumph in Turin: “Remember that football is a team game.”

Someone with a different approach, and the said reporters for certain, would have a few things to say about one or two individuals right now, new strike pair Ivica Olic and Mario Gomez, for example. Bayern have won all five of their matches since the two first lined up together at the start of a game. Olic has netted five times, and Gomez four. Each has contributed two assists as well. The duo, christened ‘Golic’ by the ever-inventive sporting press, have moved to the forefront of Bayern’s challenge for honours.