What a funny season this has been for Bayern Munich. Four consecutive victories was a great start, but things quickly soured. All of a sudden, a string of draws and losses had manager Niko Kovac fighting for his job, and they became a laughing stock to many around Europe.
While the situation is certainly not perfect - they sit six points behind rivals Borussia Dortmund and are still facing questions from doubters - order is almost restored. The present looks good for Bayern, but the future looks phenomenal.
Kovac admitted to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (via Sport1.de) earlier in the season that he feels possession is overrated, and he instead wanted to sculpt Bayern into a speed-oriented monster.
"The fast fish eat the slow fish," Kovac said.
Now, it's time for the fish to eat.
The aging duo of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben look to be on their way out of the club, and Bayern have already identified their desired replacements. Alphonso Davies, the 18-year-old known for his electric agility and dribbling, left the Vancouver Whitecaps to join Bayern once the January transfer window opened, and he will now spend six months learning at the club.
The Bundesliga giants are reportedly keen to follow up Davies' arrival with a blockbuster move for Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi, another 18-year-old known for his on-the-ball talents. The pair thrive when they are given the ball and asked to run and, should they link up at Bayern, that is what they will be asked to do: run.
Kovac is not alone in his desire for speed. Just look at Dortmund, who sit atop the Bundesliga thanks to their electric attacking play. They have their own young winger who wreaking havoc, an 18-year-old by the name of Jadon Sancho. You've probably heard of him.
Sancho is asked to carry the ball and run. The rewards of that tactic? Seven goals and 10 assists to fire the team to the top of the league. On his day, he's almost unstoppable, and Bayern knows that first-hand.
Dortmund's fast-paced dominant style of play is exactly what Kovac wants from his side, so it makes perfect sense for him to mimic their style. Signing young players undoubtedly comes with a risk, but the potential rewards are astronomical. Before you know it, Bayern could have two £100m wingers on their hands.
Not only does Bayern's future look bright, it looks incredibly exciting. Get your seat belts on, this could be a fun ride.