Status: 24/09/2023, 20:44 p.m.
By: Florian Schimak
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Jamal Musiala sat on the bench at the Oktoberfest gala over VfL Bochum. A whole 90 minutes. Sporting director Christoph Freund explained the waiver.
Munich – Three goals from Harry Kane, as well as reserves Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Matthijs de Ligt. FC Bayern's 7-0 gala against VfL Bochum at the Oktoberfest weekend left almost only happy faces.
Just almost. One of them didn't play at all on Saturday afternoon, even though he was fit: Jamal Musiala! The 20-year-old sat on the bench for the full 90 minutes against Bochum, which is unlikely to have pleased him.
| Jamal Musiala | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: | February 26, 2003 (20 years old) |
| Association: | FC Bayern Munich |
| Position: | Attacking midfield |
| Market value: | 110 million euros |
Thomas Tuchel leaves Jamal Musiala on the bench for 90 minutes against Bochum
Even before the game, the surprise was great. When asked whether Musiala or Thomas Müller, coach Thomas Tuchel replied with: Choupo-Moting. The plan was therefore clear.
"Two strikers, that we get into the spaces in front of the attackers," said keeper Sven Ulreich after the game when asked by tz.de about the match plan: "As a result, there was a lot of space, we took advantage of it." And how!
Jamal Musiala sat on the bench for 90 minutes at FC Bayern's Oktoberfest gala against VfL Bochum. © IMAGO/Bernd Feil/M.i.S.
Musiala gala against Man United – then on the bench for 90 minutes
After less than half an hour, the game was decided, when it was 3-0 for Bayern against overwhelmed Bochum. Therefore, Tuchel was also able to help Frans Krätzig make his Bundesliga debut in the second half. "Frans has now earned his place for several weeks," Tuchel said of the youngster at the press conference after the game: "It's great to see the desire and attention with which he is in training."
Since the Bayern coach had to bring in Dayot Upamecano for the ailing de Ligt at half-time and super joker Mathys Tel as well as Thomas Müller and Leon Goretzka came into play in the course of the game, there was no room left for Musiala. Despite his outstanding midweek performance in the Champions League against Manchester United (tz grade 1).
90 minutes on the bench: Bayern boss explains Musiala's waiver against Bochum
However, there were special reasons for this. Topic load control. "He played an outstanding game on Wednesday," said sporting director Christoph Freund in the mixed zone after the Bochum game when asked by tz.de: "But Jamal has come back from an injury and that's why we have to be a little careful."
The record champions could afford the luxury of completely sparing Musiala in the Bundesliga. "We know what we have in Jamal and it was good that we didn't bring him at all today," Freund continued: "We will use him intensively in the next few weeks and need Jamal."
FC Bayern's squad not too small after all? Musiala and Gnabry on the bench for 90 minutes
Curiously, a few weeks ago it was said that the Bayern squad was far too small. Now Tuchel could leave players like Jamal Musiala on the bench for 90 minutes. By the way: Serge Gnabry didn't play a second against Bochum either.
This can probably all be booked under the category of luxury. (smk)
Florian Schimak reports from the Allianz Arena
