By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Earlier than expected, Bayern Munich's head coach Niko Kovac faces significant difficulties that could endanger his team's season performance.
Aside from the delicate case of having to find a place for the legendary Thomas Mueller, his team can't stabilize its performance.
The situation couldn't have been more disillusioning after the Bavarian side's first defeat to underdogs TSG Hoffenheim 2-1, a few days after it crushed Tottenham Hotspurs 7-2 in the Champions League.
Headlines exposed the 47-year-old's tricky challenge as the Sueddeutsche wrote about Mueller being downgraded to a back-bencher while the tabloid Bild asked: "when replacement Mueller is going to explode?"
Sooner than expected, Kovac is facing severe tensions as the clubs Champions League record performer (106 games) has only been picked for the starting 11 once in the last six games.
"Nothing to say," Mueller said, refusing to comment on his situation. Apparently, the 30-year-old was annoyed and didn't feel comfortable in his new role after Brazilian star Coutinho has outpaced him regarding the first 11. For Coutinho, Kovac changed Bayern tactical system from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1.
Kovac's latest comments increased the tensions after the Munich coach said Mueller would get its playing minutes when there is need. The coach might have chosen misleading words but in the end, triggered off further unrest.
To leave out Mueller over a long extended period seems like pulling down a monument as the former German international is the club's last remaining identification figure. Born in Bavariab Mueller seems the last remaining icon standing for Bayern's regional identity.
For many years the unorthodox footballer embodied everything the Alpine region stood for. Some called him the only true Bavarian left in a squad containing players from several different nations. Others regard him as the last remaining player supporters can identify with.
For quite some time, Mueller appeared like a Bavarian sovereign. The striker was born in Weilheim, a small town to the southwest of Munich. Close to the idyllic Lake Starnberg, his birthplace is in the heart of Bavaria.
Fans very well remember last year when Mueller's wife caused trouble with a delicate posting on a social media channel. "It takes over 70 minutes until he has a flash of inspiration," the 27-year-old wrote when her husband was about to be sent on as a substitute.
12 months later, the situation hasn't improved much. Kovac seems trapped having to keep Mueller (and others like midfielder Javi Martinez) in a good mood and developing his side's game.
Hasan Salihamidzic tried to ease tensions, surprisingly claiming Mueller is getting along "very well with the situation."
The sports director had to admit diverting interests are hard to combine as "I can understand the player's frustration but see the coaches need to develop a regular staring team" to face upcoming international challenges.
The latest tensions seem to bluntly reveal Kovac's biggest problems.
The latest defeat gave evidence that Bayern havn't yet reached the needed stability. "It is apparent we can't deliver satisfying games every three or four days," Kovac stressed.
Bayern overestimated its strength.
Mueller's dissatisfaction remains an unsolved case.
To keep its entire squad in a good mood seems more difficult than expected as the tears of Martinez show the Spaniard had to spend the whole game on the bench.
Fans now hope the latest setback is a warning shot and their coach has the right solution on hand to keep everyone's feet behind the line.
