Has Lucas Hernandez become Hansi Flick’s preferred left back over Alphonso Davies at Bayern?

As Bayern Munich began the 2020/21 season, it looked as if Hansi Flick could be showing a preference to starting Lucas Hernandez over Alphonso Davies at the left back spot. To date, Hernandez has started three of Bayern’s four Bundesliga matches, the UEFA Supercup, and the DFL Supercup. By contrast, Davies has only started two league matches, the DFL Supercup, and the first round DFB-Pokal match against FC Düren, which was a starting lineup up comprised of mostly younger players.

Per a new report from Bild, Flick commented on Davies’s situation, providing some insight as to why he hasn’t been playing as much as he usually does.

“It’s not easy for a young player like Alphonso Davies because of the many games last season and the short break. It’s important that he gets back on track and can bring his strength back into play. But for that he has to have a certain fitness and mental freshness,” Flick said of the 19 year-old Canadian international.

Photo by Andreas Gebert - Pool/Getty Images

Davies more than exceeded expectations last season en route to winning a treble, and as Bild pointed out, his market value skyrocketed to €80 million via transfermarkt (de), which is the highest of any left back in Europe. His strong performances across all competitions certainly warranted such a substantial value increase, but perhaps Flick’s suggesting that he’s not quite hitting his form from last season yet.

By contrast, Hernandez has shone well in most of the chances he’s got this season and has been a starter in the league more often than Davies. “[Lucas] Hernandez has delivered very stable performances and is on a very good level. He is good for us with his aggressiveness,” Flick said of the French international.

Either way, with the congested fixtures schedule, Flick will have to keep making rotation to prevent injuries in the squad. Perhaps we’ll get a better insight into his preferences at the left back spot for this weeks opening group stage match against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Davies was the starting left back for all of Bayern’s Champions League matches last season bar the opening three group stage matches against Red Star Belgrade, Olympiacos, and Tottenham.