Tuchel is “extremely unhappy”
FC Bayern’s next big worry is already lurking
December 20, 2023, 4:21 p.m
FC Bayern Munich has only just dealt with the bitter 5-1 defeat against Frankfurt and defied the squad problems, but the next danger is already lurking on the horizon: Thomas Tuchel is worried about whether his team will be able to compete in the continental tournaments in Africa and Asia in January and February remains competitive.
Coach Thomas Tuchel sees Bayern Munich facing a major challenge given the upcoming continental tournaments in Africa and Asia. It is “extremely unfortunate that the clubs are releasing the players during the season,” said Tuchel: “But we will deal with it and find solutions for it.”
From the current Bayern squad, Min-Jae Kim (South Korea), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Cameroon) and the currently injured Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) are expected to take part in the tournaments in Qatar (January 12th to February 10th) with their respective national teams ) and the Ivory Coast (January 13th to February 11th) are traveling and the Munich team could even miss up to six league games.
In order to keep up with Bayer Leverkusen in the escalating championship battle, “we need a competitive squad,” emphasized Tuchel. They want to plan accordingly in the coming transfer window: “It’s an issue for us to deal with and we’re trying to do the best.”
Kim is worried about Bayern’s regular place
The South Korean national player Kim therefore sees his role as a regular player at Bayern as being at risk because of his participation in the Asian Championship. “During the tournament I will have to make my place available at Bayern,” said the 27-year-old to the news portal “t-online”. And if his competitors Dayot Upamecano and Matthijs de Ligt play well, they will “be the defensive duo afterwards too”.
Kim plays a central role in South Korean national coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s plans for the tournament in Qatar. The Munich team will also have to do without Mazraoui and Choupo-Moting, both of whom are scheduled to play in the Africa Cup, when they restart after the winter break. “If another player plays well in my absence, he will continue to receive trust. That’s the inevitable reality,” Kim said: “So when I return, I have to continue to fight for my place and perform well.”
The newcomer from Italy is “not completely satisfied” with his first six months with the record champions. I still don’t feel confident that I’m a regular player. However, he was in the starting line-up in 21 of the 24 competitive games, mostly with Upamecano. He missed two games due to injury, only coming off the bench in the Supercup against Leipzig (0-3). However, because de Ligt was out for a long time due to injuries, he was “still unsure. If the three of us compete properly, you don’t know how it will be,” said Kim.