Bayern bank on Coutinho
– As Bayern Munich launch their Champions League campaign against Red Star Belgrade tonight, Bavarian hopes of reclaiming European club football’s top prize rest to a large extent on the shoulders of Philippe Coutinho (above).
Following seven semifinal appearances in the last decade, the former Liverpool midfielder has been hailed as the man who can take Bayern the extra step in European football’s flagship competition this season.
Last season’s defeat to Liverpool in the last-16 sparked fears that Bayern’s Champions League aura was fading.
The departure of veteran stars such as Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben seemed to confirm the end of an era, but many believe that Coutinho, 27, can inspire Bayern to their first Champions League title since 2013.
Fellow Bayern midfielder Corentin Tolisso in an interview with Sky last month, said the loan signings of Coutinho and Croatian winger Ivan Perisic would be decisive for Bayern.
“Before those two arrived, we didn’t necessarily have a team that was capable of winning the treble,” said Tolisso. “With this team, we can go very far in the Champions League. I think the title is possible.”
Such expectations could weigh heavy on Coutinho, who is looking to reboot his career after struggling to hold down a first-team spot at Barcelona.
His price tag is also a potential burden. Though Bayern paid a loan fee of just €8.5 million (R138.2 million) to secure his services, German media estimate his wages at around €13 million a year after tax, which would make him the highest-paid player in the Bayern dressing room.
“Those things don’t bother me. I want to enjoy being on the pitch, play in big games and win titles. The numbers are just a side note for me,” Coutinho told Sport Bild magazine last week.
Coutinho claimed he could imagine staying at Bayern if the club won the Champions League.
“That is a big dream for me, similar to winning the World Cup,” he said.
It is early days, for Coutinho has made just one start for Bayern – 10 minutes in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at RB Leipzig, with Thomas Mueller preferred in the starting line-up.
Coach Niko Kovac insisted that Coutinho needed time to recover following the international break.
“He only had 72 hours recovery time. He will definitely play in the next few games,” said Kovac. – AFP