Alphonso Davies still processing Bayern Munich’s treble-winning 2019/20 season

Alphonso Davies was simply immense for Bayern Munich last season en route to yet another historic treble for the club. There’s no other way to describe how valuable his contributions were in a season where no one thought he’d be the club’s go-to left back from the outset. Ahead of the start of the 2020/21 campaign, Davies did an interview with the Edmonton Sun back in September in which he said he’s still processing everything that unfolded last season.

After signing for Bayern from the Vancouver Whitecaps in January of 2019, Davies had to work his way into Bayern’s senior squad, initially spending most of his time with the reserves playing in the 3. Liga. However, last season after Hansi Flick took charge of the club following Niko Kovac’s departure, Davies went on a sensational run of form and quickly became one of Bayern’s most important players in the squad. He said that he knew moving to the Bundesliga and Bayern was going to be a massive adjustment from the MLS, but he was just happy to get the chance to play regularly.

“When I first came to Germany, it was a learning experience for me, I knew the quality players they had on this team,” said Davies. “Being able to play regularly, I was just trying prove myself and show that I’m able to play at this level. Me winning the league, me winning the Pokal (German Cup) and then the Champions League, it’s an amazing feeling for me being so young and doing it so early in my career.”

Having achieved in a season at such a young age what most footballers dream to complete at the apex of their careers is still something Davies said he can’t quite fully process yet.

“Has it sunk in? I would say not yet, but it’s definitely getting there. I still can’t believe all this is happening,” Davies remarked.

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He may not have gotten Lionel Messi’s jersey after the famous 8-2 win over Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals, but Davies was jubilated to learn that rapper and Canadian compatriot Drake had given him a follow on Instagram.

“I sent a message to Drake telling him he should follow me on Instagram, then two minutes later someone tweeted at me saying that he had followed me and I went to see if he actually had and he did,” said Davies. “When I posted a video, he sent me a message after saying, “Congrats King,” and I think I lost it, I was so excited.”

Of course, the latter stages of Bayern’s treble-winning campaign were played behind closed doors in all competitions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, finishing with the Champions League bubble in Portugal. Winning the title without his family and friends present, Davies admitted, was one of the only disappointments in what was otherwise one of the greatest moments of his life.

“Not having my parents there was tough, but afterwards they called me and we celebrated on the phone,” Davies explained. “I obviously would have wanted them to be there with me in person so I can give them a hug, but I’m happy that I can call them and FaceTime them and celebrate with them like that.”

So far this season, Davies has lost some minutes to Lucas Hernandez, and Hansi Flick has recently said that “It’s important that he gets back on track and can bring his strength back into play.”

With matches coming thick and fast in what’s going to be a significantly truncated schedule, rotations will certainly need to be made by Flick and hopefully that’s something that works in Davies’s favor in regaining his brilliant form from last season.

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