Bayern Munich was the best team of 2013. No questions asked. Six of its star players were nominated for the Ballon d'Or, but only one is being campaigned as the top candidate for the award: Franck Ribery. While Ribery has had a terrific year, is he the man that should have been picked as the top candidate from Munich for the award?Was he truly the best player for Bayern Munich in 2013?
The next question that arises is who would be the replacement for Ribery as Munich's top star? That answer is actually easier than expected: Arjen Robben. Here are some reasons why Robben deserves to be the man at the top of voters' lists.
Ribery finished the 2012-13 season with 10 goals and 12 assists in 27 games; Robben, meanwhile, compiled five goals and five assists in just 16 matches due to injuries. The Dutchman has gotten off to a solid start for his club in 2013 with three goals and two assists in 10 matches; these numbers are less than Ribery but no less important for Munich.
These numbers may not make a case for Robben over Ribery, but there is one thing that the Dutch winger has over his counterpart. In 2012, Robben was made the scapegoat for Munich's loss against Chelsea in the Champions League final. Robben was terrific throughout the tournament in 2012-13 and finished with four goals and two assists in nine matches; Ribery had one goal and two assists in 12 matches. Add in Robben's four goals and three assists in five games during Munich's German Cup championship run (Ribery only finished with two assists in four games) and it becomes clear that the Dutchman has an edge in the major tournaments. But the comparison does not end there. Robben played his best game of the season in the final of the Champions League. He was a man-possessed throughout that game and created opportunities for his club when it was being outplayed by Borussia Dortmund. With the game hanging in the balance, Robben managed to score the winner and redeem himself for the missed penalty a year earlier; Ribery assisted on the goal, but never managed such a moment.
Also worthy of mention is the game-winner that Robben scored in the quarterfinals of the German Cup against Borussia Dortmund in early February.
Naturally, this comparison seems fruitless. Why compare Robben with his own teammate when there are 21 other competitors? The reason is simple. Ribery is in the running for being the top star representative from Bayern Munich's tremendous side. The big question here is why Ribery when the award is for a player that had an excellent season individually? Why not Robben, who redeemed himself and clinched a title on his own for Munich?
Robben is probably not in the running for this trophy, but there is clearly a case to be made for him being the Munich hero over Ribery.
Prediction: Robben finishes in the top seven.
Does Arjen Robben deserve to be Munich's top candidate for the award?