By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Statistics tell the story of Bayern Munich's rejuvenation better than anything else.
Who could have expected 23-year-old Serge Gnabry to be the team's best when it comes to average shots per game (3.4), his passing preciseness and his speed when sprinting (33.5 km/h)?
Experienced players like 35-year-old Franck Ribery and 34-year-old Arjen Robben have to concede that they have been overtaken by the youngsters. The original plan was to use Ribery and Robben in their last year as teachers and mentors for the new kids on the block.
Some say the golden-agers have to accept reality. An era of great success slowly seems to be coming to an end.
Ribery and Robben are increasingly being left out of the starting 11. Niko Kovac is said to be pushing through the team's change with vigor and insiders indicate he is receiving the support of the club's bosses like Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness.
2014 World Cup winners Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng are already battling 23-year-old Niklas Sule for one of the spots in central defense. Sule is not only said to be Kovac's first choice but his statistics speak for themselves in terms of speed and one-on-ones.
Gnabry and Sule are just two of several youngsters who are expected to make up Bayern's next generation, one that is expected to remain one of Europe's top dogs alongside Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris St Germain and Juventus.
Gnabry left Germany at the age of 16 to join Premier League Arsenal before returning to the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen. He spent last season on loan from Bayern at TSG Hoffenheim and is considered to be a real contender for the German national team.
Like Gnabry and Sule, Kingsley Coman, Corentin Tolisso, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich are meeting the needs of modern speedy football better than their experienced teammates.
Indeed, Gnabry was used by national coach Joachim Low on the wing in Germany's recent match against world champions France.
"The question was, who can add speed to our game when counter attacking?" Low said. Gnabry made his debut in Low's starting 11 against France and performed well.
As in Munich, Sule is also on his way to securing a regular place in the national team ahead of club teammates Hummels and Boateng. National newspaper Die Welt commented that Sule has become a mainstay of both the national team and his club.
Reports speak about Bayern trying to initiate further changes in the near future, as the 2013 treble winners' scouts are said to be scouring Europe for young talents. The club leaders said the summer break of 2019 will mark the next turning point and that the club is planning to make substantial investments.
According to several media reports, Bayern are tracking several talents in the 21 to 23-year-old bracket, like Nicolas Pepe (OSC Lille), Frenkie de Jong (Ajax), Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan), Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray, on loan from Everton), Wesley Moraes (Club Brugge) and Krzysztof Piatek (FC Genoa).
Several media are reporting that Bayern have already come to an agreement with 2018 World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard. The Frenchman is said to have an exit clause in his contract with VfB Stuttgart allowing him to leave for 35 million euros.
