Are Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick, Hasan Salihamidzic at odds behind the scenes?

Per a new report from SportBild, tensions may be resurfacing between Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick and Hasan Salihamidzic. Last season, the two didn’t exactly see eye to eye when it came to Bayern Munich’s transfer policy. Flick was an advocate for both Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, but Brazzo had other ideas and finally got his main man over the line last summer by acquiring Leroy Sane from Manchester City. Oliver Kahn had to essentially play a mediator’s role between the two so that they could eventually settle their differences.

Flick has taken some criticism in recent weeks for some of Bayern’s lackluster performances. They are perhaps a bit lucky to still be at the top of the Bundesliga table thanks to the clubs in and around them at the top end of the table not pouncing on opportunities to close the gap. Both Kahn and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge were critical of recent performances and called for necessary improvements to be made. From Flick’s perspective, the matches in close proximity is catching up with the squad, and a lot of them are both physically and mentally tired. The COVID pandemic has not made life any easier for anyone.

Now, the club is prepping for the summer transfer window at a time when they’ve experience financial losses like no other time due to the coronavirus. They are prepping for the departure of David Alaba and the possibility of losing several other players like (potentially) Jerome Boateng, Javi Martinez, Douglas Costa, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and/or Corentin Tolisso. There is pressure to find ample replacements, at least for Alaba and Boateng, assuming they both leave. Bayern has to find a balance between being financially responsible, and covering for big losses in defense.

It’s clear they will have to spend considerable money to replace Alaba and RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano is on the top of that list, but he won’t be cheap. Other than getting a top rate center back, Bayern is approaching a strict policy where they will only go after free transfers or transfer that do not exceed 10-15 million Euros. This could potentially be a problem are when it comes to differing opinions between Flick and Brazzo.

It’s also important to note that last summer, Flick was under the impression that Bayern would get a deal for Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi over the line. Because of this, when Brazzo brought back Douglas Costa and also brought in Choupo-Moting and Bouna Sarr, Flick wasn’t exactly thrilled. There’s a consensus that Tiago Dantas was the only player from the last transfer window other than Leroy Sane that Flick actually had genuine interest in signing. Esstnially, Brazzo might’ve signed off on deals that Flick didn’t support and there’s a risk this might happen again this summer.