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It’s that point in the season where Bayern Munich travel to Qatar to get some sun, but things are far from sunny at the moment. The German record champions have been hit by two critical injury setbacks, as both Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry are set to miss the Bundesliga opener against Hertha Berlin.
Speaking to the press, coach Hansi Flick reportedly expressed a need for at least two new signings in January.
Flick sieht mit Blick auf die Verletzten und die Kadergröße enorme Probleme, die hoch gesteckten Ziele in der Rückrunde zu erreichen. Nach @SPORTBILD-Infos drängt er auf die Verpflichtung von mindestens einem Spieler im Winter, evtl. zwei. Mehr gleich bei @BILD_Sport #fcbayern
— Tobias Altschäffl (@altobelli13) January 8, 2020
With regard to injured players and the size of the squad, Flick sees enormous problems in reaching his ambitious goals in the second half of the season. According to @SPORTBILD’s information, he is pushing for the signing of at least one player in the winter, possibly two.
Losing Niklas Süle for the season was already a huge blow to Bayern’s title hopes, and with Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry both out, the Bavarians are currently missing both starting wingers.
Thomas Müller, when asked whether he might play on the wing, said that it would not be ideal for him or the coach.
Müller durch die Verletzungen wieder auf der Außenbahn? „Ist von meiner und Trainerseite nicht das Wunschszenario” – @esmuellert_ @SPORT1 #FCBayern
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) January 8, 2020
Müller on the possibility of playing on the wing due to the injuries: “It’s not the ideal scenario for me or for the coach.”
On the state of the squad, Müller said (via Bild),
It is not optimal as things now stand, especially when King [Coman] and Serge, two wingers, are injured at the same time. I think the squad size per se was chosen quite well before the season. But we are currently somewhat thin in some positions.
While Bayern normally shy away from doing business in winter, the message coming from the dressing room is clear — both the coach and a senior player want new signings for the team.
If Bayern’s stated goal really is to win the treble, then there is no way that this current personnel situation can be allowed to continue. Unless the bosses expect Flick to beat Liverpool with a pair of teenagers on the wing, Bayern Munich needs some new signings ASAP.