Niko Kovac says his statement about Thomas Müller was a mistake

Before Bayern Munich’s 2-1 defeat against Hoffenheim, Niko Kovac had made a slightly controversial statement about Thomas Müller’s lack of playing time after the 30 year old failed to find to find a spot as a first-string player in four consecutive games. The coach’s statement wasn’t clearly received well and created quite a disturbance among the Müller fandom:

When there is need, he will definitely also get his minutes.

At today’s press conference ahead of Bayern’s game against Augburg, Kovač tried to clear the air and admitted that the statement about Müller was nothing more than a mistake from his part. He also talked to the player the next day and made plain that he did not expect the statement to come out the way it actually did. He said (Bild):

It was a mistake by me. I expressed myself incorrectly. I’ve refuted the statement simply by the fact that Thomas has come on again and again over the past weeks. I didn’t meant it in the way I said. But it’s clear to me that it was interpreted that way. I spoke with Thomas the next day; everything is clear up. He also understood it in the way I meant. I made a small mistake, happens to me sometimes.

Kovač and Müller are said to be on good terms at the moment as the coach believes that he made the player understand what he actually wanted to convey. A few days back, the club president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had also made it clear that the Bavarian is actually a very important part of the club and the relation the club have with him is unblemished.

Thomas Müller expected back in the starting line-up against Augsburg

Philippe Coutinho just arrived back in Munich after appearing in two friendly games for Brazil in the Far East — against Senegal (1-1) and Nigeria (1-1). He has very low chances of being Kovač’s choice over Müller on Saturday, when the Bavarians face Augsburg at the WWK Arena, no least on account of jet lag. Also, the Brazilian would need some time to rest after a very busy international break as another Champions League match day is around the corner.

Müller has been great during his past few appearances regardless of the amount of playing time he got. Given how important he is for the club and the fans, he just has to keep doing his best to gain more time on the pitch and not be a permanent substitute.