Aleksandar Pavlovic did not start for FC Bayern Munich in the Champions League match at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, with interim coach Aaron Danks citing risk management as the reason for the surprise omission, SPOX.com reported.
Danks, who is standing in for head coach Vincent Kompany following Kompany’s collapse and hospitalization, explained the decision ahead of the match in Madrid. “With Aleks Pavlovic, it would have been a bit too much risk to play him tonight,” Danks said. “And we didn’t want to take any risk.” The midfielder was initially left on the bench in Madrid purely as a precautionary measure, with Danks emphasizing that Pavlovic was missing “nothing serious.”
Danks spoke to Amazon Prime Video immediately before the match in the Spanish capital. “It’s something special to present this club in such a night in the Champions League,” Danks said. “It makes me proud, but it will of course also be a tough match.”
The decision came as a minor surprise given that Pavlovic had played the full 90 minutes in Bayern’s 2-2 Bundesliga draw against Borussia Dortmund last Saturday, with no injury reported from that match, according to SPOX.com.
Tom Bischof Fills in Next to Joshua Kimmich
Tom Bischof took Pavlovic’s place alongside Joshua Kimmich in the defensive midfield. For the 21-year-old, it marked his third Champions League start. Bischof had also started in the 3-3 draw at Viking Stavanger and the 2-2 draw against Arsenal. Across all competitions, the German international has now made 14 appearances this season, goal.com reported.
Manuel Neuer and Michael Olise Cleared to Start
While Pavlovic was initially left out, two other Bayern stars with recent fitness concerns were cleared to start. Both goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and attacking player Michael Olise were available from the opening whistle. “Manu felt good in training and is ready to start,” Danks said. Regarding Olise, who had been substituted in the final phase against Dortmund, Danks explained that the winger had merely suffered “a blow to the bone” with “no structural injury,” according to fcbinside.de.
Danks added that with Olise, it was mainly about getting pain management under control; he had no structural injury but had to be observed before the decision could be made, so there was no increased risk of injury.
Danks also expressed respect for Atletico Madrid ahead of the Champions League fixture, stating that the Spanish club “can definitely play good football” and that Bayern needed to be “fully there from the start” to win.
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