Oliver Kahn: COVID-19 is helping young players get more playing time at Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich is often under fire for not integrating young footballers into the first team. Some players, such as Angelo Stiller recently, have even declined contract extensions from Bayern for precisely that reasons. But under Hansi Flick, everything changed. He often plays, and even starts, young prospects from the second team.

It’s pretty impressive that nine players made their debut for the first squad under the 55-year-old German manager, and many of them are playing frequently. Bayern’s board member, Oliver Kahn, thinks that the COVID-19 pandemic played a small part in the integration of the youngsters.

In a recent interview with Bild, Kahn explained why youngsters are getting more chances for playing now: “The chance for young players to show themselves at FC Bayern has rarely been greater than in these weeks and months.” The number of games that players are playing is huge, “which leads to the frequent rotation.”

Kahn further explains: “We can make up to five substitutions. That’s why we suddenly have Jamal Musiala, Chris Richards, Joshua Zirkzee, Bright Arrey-Mbi.”

Bayern’s CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has recently confirmed that Bayern won’t sign any additions during the winter transfer window. With a heavy upcoming schedule, it wouldn’t be a surprise if we saw a few more youngsters debuting for Bayern Munich.