FC Bayern's next big worry is already lurking
FC Bayern Munich have only just come to terms with the bitter 1:5 defeat against Frankfurt and defied the squad problems when the next danger is already lurking on the horizon: Thomas Tuchel is worried about whether his team will remain competitive due to the continental tournaments in Africa and Asia in January and February.
Coach Thomas Tuchel sees Bayern Munich facing a major challenge in view of the upcoming continental tournaments in Africa and Asia. It is "extremely unfortunate that clubs are withdrawing players during the season", said Tuchel: "But we will deal with it and find solutions."
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 travel with their respective national teams to the tournaments in Qatar (January 12 to February 10) and Ivory Coast (January 13 to February 11) and could therefore miss up to six league games for Munich.
Tuchel emphasized that "we need a competitive squad" in order to keep pace with Bayer Leverkusen in the escalating championship battle. The club will plan accordingly in the upcoming transfer window: "That's an issue for us to deal with, and we'll try our best."
Kim worries about Bayern's starting line-up
South Korean international Kim therefore believes that his role as a regular at Bayern is at risk due to his participation in the Asian Cup. "During the tournament, I will have to vacate my place at Bayern," the 27-year-old told the news portal "t-online". And if his rivals Dayot Upamecano and Matthijs de Ligt play well then, they will "also be the defensive duo afterwards for the time being".
Kim will play a central role in South Korean national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann's plans for the tournament in Qatar. Munich will also have to do without Mazraoui and Choupo-Moting, who are both due to play in the Africa Cup, for the time being when they restart after the winter break. "If another player plays well in my absence, he will continue to get the nod. That's the unavoidable reality," said Kim: "So I have to keep fighting for my place when I return and perform well."
Meanwhile, the addition from Italy is "not completely satisfied with his first six months at the record champions. I still don't feel sure that I'm a regular player". However, he was in the starting eleven in 21 of the 24 competitive matches, mostly with Upamecano. He missed two games due to injury and only came off the bench in the Super Cup against Leipzig (0:3). However, because de Ligt has been out for a long time due to injury, he is "still uncertain. When the three of us compete properly, you don't know how it will turn out," said Kim.
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Tuchel acknowledges the challenge for FC Bayern Munich due to the continental tournaments in Africa and Asia, as key players like Min-Jae Kim, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, and Noussair Mazraoui might miss up to six league games for the club. (From the given text)
In the absence of Choupo-Moting and Mazraoui for the Africa Cup, Bayern Munich will also have to deal with Kim's participation in the Asian Cup, which could potentially affect his regular position in the starting lineup. (Combining information from different parts of the text)
Source: www.ntv.de
