After reaching the Champions League final the previous year, Bayern endured a turbulent campaign under Louis van Gaal. Defensively fragile and inconsistent in the Bundesliga, they slipped out of the title race early, finishing 3rd, far behind champions Borussia Dortmund. Star men Arjen Robben, Franck Ribéry, and Thomas Müller still provided attacking brilliance, but injuries and tactical inflexibility hampered results. In Europe, Bayern were eliminated in the Champions League Round of 16 by Inter Milan in a dramatic tie. They also fell short in the domestic cups. Van Gaal was dismissed late in the season, with Jupp Heynckes announced as his successor.
