Bayern Munich have suffered a significant blow with the confirmation that Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano will be sidelined due to injuries sustained during international duty. The setbacks come at a crucial stage of the season, with the Bundesliga leaders preparing for key domestic and European fixtures.
Davies, 24, tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during Canada’s 2-1 victory over the United States in the Concacaf Nations League third-place play-off. The injury forced him off in the 12th minute, and he is now set to undergo surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the season. His absence is a major loss for Bayern, as the left-back has been a key figure in Vincent Kompany’s system, making 31 appearances this season and contributing three goals and three assists.
Davies’ agent, Nedal Huoseh, has publicly criticised Canada Soccer and head coach Jesse Marsch for allegedly pressuring the player into starting the match despite not being fully fit. He stated, "As a captain, I feel he was pressured to start the game by the coach. Alphonso is not the kind of guy to say no in those moments." Canada Soccer has yet to officially respond to these claims, but the situation has reignited debates over player management during international breaks.
Meanwhile, Upamecano has been diagnosed with free joint bodies in his left knee, ruling him out for several weeks. The French centre-back has been a defensive pillar for Bayern, ranking second only to Kim Min-Jae in aerial duels won (60) and behind only Joshua Kimmich in tackles won (22). His absence further weakens Bayern’s defensive stability as they navigate a tight schedule.
Sporting director Max Eberl acknowledged the difficulty of losing two key players, stating, “Unfortunately, there is always the risk of injuries during international breaks this time, it has hit us particularly hard.” However, he expressed confidence in the squad’s depth, insisting that Bayern will compensate for the absences and continue pursuing their goals.
The injuries come at a pivotal moment, with Bayern’s Bundesliga lead over Bayer Leverkusen cut to six points after dropping points against Bochum and Union Berlin. The team faces St. Pauli next before turning their focus to a Champions League quarter-final clash against Serie A leaders Inter Milan on April 8.
With Davies out for the season and Upamecano sidelined for weeks, Kompany faces a challenging task in maintaining Bayern’s dominance. The coming weeks will test the squad’s resilience as they aim to secure both domestic and European success.
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