Bundesliga
FC Bayern in the Corona trap: Under what circumstances the game against Gladbach would be canceled
Defender Alphonso Davies also tested positive – and had trained with the team this week
© Peter Kneffel / DPA
The record champions are increasingly caught in the stranglehold of the pandemic. Nine FC Bayern players have now tested positive. The second half of the season against Gladbach is on the brink.
FC Bayern Munich has declared a corona emergency. On Wednesday afternoon, the autumn champion announced the ninth infection in the squad. The virus outbreak in Munich could develop into a domino effect for the entire league.
The opening game of the second half of the Bundesliga against Borussia Mönchengladbach this Friday (8.30 p.m. / Sat.1 / DAZN) is more on the brink than ever. The Munich health department could pull the emergency brake, regardless of a possible league decision.
Salihamidzic: “We currently have ten field players and two goalkeepers”
As it became known on Wednesday afternoon, defender Alphonso Davies also tested positive for the corona virus – and the youngster had trained with the team on the pitch after the holiday this week. That was not the case with the eight actors previously affected.
The acute personnel shortage had already led to the fact that Bayern had discussed the postponement of the game against Gladbach with the German Football League (DFL) before the Davies Corona case. “We currently have ten field players and two goalkeepers. That is why we are thinking about how we can play the game and have discussed the situation with the DFL,” said sports director Hasan Salihamidzic of the German press agency – he had also counted Davies. The 21-year-old had to be quarantined, but according to the club, he is fine.
Bayern meet DFL requirements for the start of the game
According to the DFL game regulations, at least 15 licensed players and / or amateurs / contract players who are authorized to play in the licensed team must be available. These 15 players must include nine licensed players, including a goalkeeper.
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In purely formal terms, the Bavarians meet these requirements. “There is a set of rules that we will adhere to like everyone else,” said Salihamidzic. “It looks like we’re going to play and then we’ll go into the game to win it,” added the 45-year-old. The Davies case may change the situation fundamentally.
Gladbach’s sports director Eberl: “We don’t decide that”
Gladbach’s sports director Max Eberl reported at a Borussia press conference on Wednesday that the Munich team “would like to cancel” the game. That is why he had contact with the DFL and with his Bayern colleague Salihamidzic. “That’s not our topic, the league decides, we don’t decide,” said Eberl. Borussia also has four corona cases, but would like to compete.
The holiday trips over Christmas have proven to be a particular risk of infection for Bavaria. Gladbach’s manager Eberl still defended the trips of professional kickers in the pandemic. “We are role models, we know that.” But many people were on the road over Christmas and the turn of the year.
“We in football are members of society, not a parallel society. As people always talk about football, at a certain point I find it unbearable. We are also people who are allowed to have their freedom,” commented Eberl.
Not only Corona decimates the Bayern squad
Not only the nine corona cases from captain Manuel Neuer, who is still in quarantine in the Maldives, to attacker Leroy Sané and now to Davies, decimate the Munich squad. In addition, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Bouna Sarr are seconded to the Africa Cup. The second team’s contract amateurs have been free since December 10th and are not yet in training again.
Banned or injured players such as the full-back Josip Stanisic, who cannot be used again after a muscle torn, are also counted among the 15 necessary players. Another risk for Bayern could be Leon Goretzka, who is training after a patellar tendon problem this week. In addition, the ailing Niklas Süle did not train on Wednesday.
“Leon Goretzka has not played for five weeks. We don’t know whether he could play with Niklas Süle either. He has back problems,” said Salihamidzic. Would coach Julian Nagelsmann take the risk of putting players at risk of injury? He would still get a well-known team together, change options would be rare.