Bayern stars turn on Kovac

– Bayern Munich’s slump in form has opened up a Pandora’s box at the German champions this season, with players turning against coach Niko Kovac, a team mole leaking stories to the media and club bosses struggling to contain the escalating crisis.

The Bavarians, who have won the last six Bundesliga titles, have slipped to fifth in the standings this season after failing to win any of their last three league matches.

Their once dominant attacking style has been replaced with a timid, inaccurate passing game.

Leaders and usual rivals Borussia Dortmund have already gone nine points ahead of them with Bayern’s hopes of securing a seventh consecutive title fading with each passing week.

Kovac, who took over this season, knows their 5-1 win over Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday that carried them through to the last-16, was merely a temporary reprieve. – Reuters

Berlin