Bayern Munich’s Lucas Hernandez admits frustration with playing time

In a press conference for the French national team earlier today (via FootMercato), Lucas Hernandez shed some light on his frustrations at not getting as much playing time as he would’ve liked for Bayern Munich this season. The video press conference came on the heels of France’s 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against Ukraine at the Stade de France in which Hernandez started and played the full 90 minutes alongside fellow Bayern teammate Benjamin Pavard.

Hernandez has made a total of 29 appearances across all competitions this season, but a lot of those appearances have come as a reserve, as Hansi Flick most often starts Alphonso Davies at left-back and two of David Alaba, Jerome Boateng, and/or Niklas Sule at center-back. Hernandez has found it difficult to supplant either of the five at left back or center back despite performing well when he’s been called upon and getting constant backing from Flick.

Hernandez admitted that it was frustrating to deal with not getting as many starts as he would’ve wanted, in addition to having to battle injury spells both this season and last season.

“I am someone who always wants to play. Last season was very complicated with my injuries. This season is going better. Every time I played for a club, I wanted to restore the confidence to the club. There have been times during this season when I was on the bench I was frustrated, angry, pissed off. I am a competitive person, I always want to play. When that doesn’t happen, it’s true that I’m angry, upset,” Hernandez explained.

Photo by TF-Images/ Getty Images

Earlier this week, Hernandez detailed how Bayern has told them they are planning on using him more as a center-back, which could help his case for more consistent minutes next season, even with the arrival of Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig.

Both Alaba and Boateng are expected to leave this summer, and even Sule’s future at the club is in question since he’s edging towards the end of his current contract (June 2022) and there haven’t been renewal discussions yet. Chelsea is interested in signing him this summer as well and there he could potentially join compatriots Antonio Rudiger, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, and former Bundesliga manager Thomas Tuchel. Either way, if at least both Alaba and Boateng leave, there should be more opportunity for Hernandez as Flick has also expressed his reservations about using Pavard as a center-back.