Flicks title move: Alaba "leads the team"

2020-05-29T18:50:39.649Z

For years, David Alaba strived for a more central role and more responsibility at Bayern. She found Hansi Flick in great need for defense. Now the coach absolutely wants to keep his boss.

Munich (dpa) - As a loudspeaker, David Alaba has never become conspicuous at Bayern in all these years. But now, in the quiet environment of the ghost games, Hansi Flick has discovered something very gratifying with his defense chief.

"It is the case that he leads the team, that he gives commands. You can see that even more from the outside in the silence of the stadium and the games. I am very pleased because I keep asking players to do that supporting each other on the pitch, pushing each other and coaching each other. David is doing well, "said the coach this week.

Flick awaits commands again on Saturday (6.30 p.m. / Sky) in his 25th competitive game as Bayern head coach from Austrian soccer player Alaba. Against Fortuna Dusseldorf, the Munich want to take the next step to the 30th championship title. For 27-year-old Alaba, it would be championship number nine as a Bayern professional - and still a premiere: it would be his first title, which he would not win as a left full-back, but as a central defender.

Half a year later, Alaba not only fulfills the responsible post of defense boss, which Flick assigned to him in his first game as Kovac's successor, with astonishing sovereignty and prudence, but now also with great joy. "The way we play it at the moment is a lot of fun, even in the indoor position," said Alaba.

The Austrian, who had been the little brother behind Franck Ribéry on the left for years, had always hoped for a more central role in the Munich game. But Alaba thought about the midfield. Flick's idea with central defender Alaba also originated from an emergency: Defense chief Niklas Süle and world champion Lucas Hernández, who was committed by Atlético Madrid for 80 million euros, were injured last November. And ex-world champion Jérôme Boateng was far from the best.

In addition to Alaba, not only 31-year-old Boateng blossomed again in the defense center. To the left of Alaba, in his previous position, the 19-year-old Canadian Alphonso Davies started off as a discovery of the season. This currently means that there is no space left in the starting XI for the now record-breaking Hernández. Alaba blocked the Frenchman on the left, Davies on the outside. "You don't like to put an 80 million man on the bench," said former Bayern star Lothar Matthäus.

In 14 of the 24 competitive games under Flick there was zero, even in the victory in Dortmund, which was so important in the title fight. Alaba plays a large part in this. He simply tries to return the coach's trust on the pitch: "I have more responsibility, but I am happy to accept it because it is also my aim."

Forever central defender? Alaba hesitates: "I know that I will be seen on the inside position. But I still have an offensive urge in me. I want to come forward from time to time."

Bavaria forever? That's the other question for Alaba. His contract expires in a year. Flick knows that, the bosses in Munich know that - and other top clubs in Europe know that too.

"His development in the center-back position is just excellent. I think not only do we see it that way, other clubs also see it that way," said Flick. As it goes on with Alaba, the coach asked: "Everyone knows how I feel about it. I hope that such a player, who was also trained at Bayern and has played here for a few years, will continue to be part of FC Bayern Munich."

Bayern squad

Bavaria game plan

Bundesliga schedule

Bundesliga table

Title wins FC Bayern

DFL concept for special game operations

Bundesliga scorers list

All Bundesliga champions

Facts about Alaba

Bundesliga statistics FC Bayern

Fortuna Bundesliga statistics

Season statistics FC Bayern