Lucas Hernández, in doubt

Lucas Hernández's stage at Bayern Munich fluctuates as if it were Bitcoin. The cryptocurrency also reaches historical highs as it suffers resounding falls that leave its value on the ground. The Bayern Munich full-back arrived as the most expensive signing in the history of Bayern Munich, payment of clause to Atleti through (80 million euros), and the injuries entangled his first campaign in the Bavarian team. The irruption of Alphonso Davies on the side came to make Lucas rethink his future (“I still have four years of contract, but if everything continues so complicated I'll see”, he went on to say), but in this 2020-21, his price rose again like foam, taking a place in the starting lineup of Flick and snatching the side from the Canadian. However, when no one was discussing his performance or his stay in Munich, another setback came.

In Werder Bremen's visit to the Allianz this Saturday (1-1), the exrojiblanco retired from the field of play when just 19 minutes had elapsed. A pelvic hematoma made the Frenchman take the locker room route ahead of time and set off the Bavarian alarms. After the meeting, Flick did not evade the problem and acknowledged that his participation this Wednesday (they play against RB Salzburg in the Champions League) “is in doubt”. Furthermore, he said that no “risk taking”, in addition to advocating creativity when training the defense, when the time comes.

The clinical history of our protagonist does not call for gallantry when the ghost of injuries flies over their present, as it could affect their future. We cannot forget that Davies earned the opportunity on the side, in addition to his undeniable conditions, due to the continuous losses from Marseille. In his first season with the Bavarian team, he could only play 1,119 minutes: a long ankle injury led him to be listed as 'not available' for more than 100 days.

Without Davies or Lucas, Praise

A number of minutes that, curiously, is already around this season, in which he adds 900 'in 11 games. Play time that contrasts with the 390 'that an Alphonso Davies has played that, although he has been injured for a month, he had lost his job. In fact, three of the eight games he has played have been as a left winger and not as a winger. The mishap seems minor, but as Flick slides well, taking risks is not an option.

This unknown in the state of Lucas and the aforementioned loss of Davies leaves the left flank of the Bavarian defense in a square. For this reason, against Salzburg, a team against which, curiously, our protagonist made his debut as a scorer at Bayern a month ago, Hansi Flick could have to improvise. This Saturday, Leon Goretzka took the place in the field left by the former Atleti player after the injury, moving Javi Martínez to the center of the defense (the crash began as a pivot) and David Alaba to the side. This may be the most feasible option for the German coach, since from that position the Austrian opened a gap among the world's defensive elite. All precautions are little and more now that the puzzle seemed to begin to fit.