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Lucas Hernández (second from right) played rustic against Sevilla
Photo:
Pool / Getty Images
Hansi Flick stood a little to one side, on the edge of the stage.
The European Super Cup was just making the rounds next to him, one player after the other stretching him towards the night sky over Budapest.
The mood shortly before midnight was cheerful and relaxed, Thomas Müller threw confetti around.
Only the FC Bayern coach looked serious at that moment.
Was he thinking about who he'll call for the starting line-up at Hoffenheim in less than 64 hours on Sunday?
Or how does this team survive the next few months?
It seemed a bit bizarre: FC Bayern continued their incredible series of successes and took their 35th win and fourth title in the 38th competitive game under Flick.
And yet, from the club's point of view, one had to be quietly worried about the near future that evening.
Because FC Bayern has a great squad, but one that is far too small for the huge program of the coming weeks.
And it could be even smaller if Javi Martínez, the winning goal scorer for the 2-1 winner, leaves the club for Spain these days.
"We are of the same opinion that we still need one or the other in terms of quality," said Hansi Flick, "as an option that we can put away such games."
Tiring games that, like on Thursday, also last 120 minutes.
Manuel Neuer even spoke of the fact that the goal must be "that we are twice occupied in every position".
Used first season by Hernández
Lucas Hernández showed on Thursday that they are doubly occupied, at least on the left side of the defense.
As in the season opener against Schalke, he played instead of the ailing Alphonso Davies from the start.
The world champion had a used first season behind him, was either injured or mostly sat on the bench, most recently in an interview he expressed doubts about his future at Bayern.
"I still have four years of contract," he said on French television, "if it continues to be this complicated we'll see."
On Thursday against Sevilla he played a good game, acted quite rustic and uncompromising on the defensive, and repeatedly intervened in attacking play.
But when Flick took him off the field after 100 minutes and brought in Alphonso Davies, the differences became apparent.
Hernández is not one who overtakes opponents in a row to the opposing baseline, but he lacks the speed - which is why a completely recovered Davies is probably the first choice on the left defensive for Flick.
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He's got it: Lucas Hernández with the Supercup trophy
Photo: Pool / Getty Images
It will then be interesting how Davies will harmonize with Leroy Sané.
And whether the two of them can.
When Davies played his first 20 minutes on Thursday, Manchester City's summer signing was already off the pitch, and Sané only played 70 minutes.
Together, the two would be the fastest duo on the left side of a football pitch in the world, that could be spectacular, but it could also mean that they first have to find their place in search of the right set-up and not get in the way of the sheer speed stand.
Little room on the defensive
A place that Hernández still has to find.
Just over a year ago, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge praised him as "the best central defender in the Bundesliga" at his presentation.
Now he is desperately fighting to assert himself on the left side of defense against a 19-year-old.
There is also little room in the said central defense, here he is only the fourth man behind Niklas Süle, Jérôme Boateng and of course David Alaba in the lead, who looked very unsettled against Sevilla.
His bump against Rakitic, which led to the penalty for Sevilla after ten minutes.
His ricochet in midfield, which gave Seville a great chance to win in the 89th minute when Manuel Neuer parried brilliantly against Youssef En-Nesyri.
His two failed free kicks from almost 20 meters, which he usually likes to put in the corner, but chased far over the goal on Thursday.
Why did he seem so distracted? It was not clear whether he did not seem physically fit after his muscular problems a week ago?
Or whether the tough contract negotiations with all the public noises are gradually getting to him?
Is he going?
Does he stay?
The hacking over the extension of his contract, which has been going on for months, could gradually become a burden for Bayern as well.
If Alaba were to find a new club by the end of the transfer window on October 5th, Hernández would also be an alternative for the defense center after Süle and Boateng.
But not anymore.
On Friday, Bayern flew from Budapest to Munich.
On Saturday they fly to Mannheim, Sunday is the game at Hoffenheim.
Next Wednesday it will be at home in the German Supercup against Dortmund.
After all: there is no extension in the competition.
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