Young star Aleksandar Pavlović impresses as Kimmich’s representative in Bayern’s win against Stuttgart. Is he the internal solution to the “Holding Six” problem?
Julian Buhl reports from the Allianz Arena
Up to this point, Aleksandar Pavlović had been able to hide them well and, in both senses of the word, outplay them on the pitch with the help of his calm performance. But when the 19-year-old arrived in the mixed zone in the catacombs of the Allianz Arena after his convincing performance in FC Bayern’s 3-0 win against VfB Stuttgart, it was suddenly omnipresent: nervousness.
It was clearly noticeable to the young FC Bayern professional that he still felt rather uncomfortable and insecure in this field, which was as yet untried for him, i.e. the interviews with the reporters who were waiting for him there. He is honored that he bravely faced the challenge, even if his answers were quite short and he smiled away at some of the questions. Embarrassed, he reported on the many pats on the back in the cabin.
In the previous 90 minutes on the field there was absolutely no sign of youthful insecurity or even awkwardness. On the contrary: Pavlović was by no means shy there and was completely in his element in the central midfield.
Pavlovic: “Then you just play football”
“There’s always minimal nervousness,” he told t-online and explained his coolness on the pitch as follows: “Then you’re in your film, you ignore everything else and just play football.”
He didn’t have much time to think about anything before the game anyway. After both Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka were absent for a short time due to illness, he was suddenly in demand as a representative for the two national players. And alongside Raphaël Guerreiro, he impressed across the board in Kimmich’s position in central midfield.
Löst Pavlović das “Holding Six”-Problem?
And in his second starting eleven in the Bundesliga he once again impressed with his qualities. He acted calmly, cautiously and with strong duels in the six-man position and played some very clever passes. In total, he had 70 ball contacts and a pass rate of 86 percent. After Guerreiro (13.2 kilometers), he ran the most with 13 kilometers.
Pavlović played the way his coach Thomas Tuchel could only wish for a defensive-minded, ball-confident midfielder, who he misses in his squad. Is he perhaps even the internal solution to the external search for the so-called “Holding Six” desired by Tuchel?
“We showed today that he has our trust. He did really well. But let’s leave the church in the village,” said Tuchel. “I’m very happy for him, he’s training well, he’s a good boy who has his heart in the right place.”
Pavlović gives Bayern bosses doubts
President Herbert Hainer was also more than impressed by Pavlović’s courageous performance. “He did an outstanding job today, and not for the first time,” he said. If you have a smaller squad, “then those players from the second team also get a chance” and Pavlović “used them excellently”.
So can Bayern, who were willing to spend €60 million on João Palhinha in the summer, possibly save themselves a costly investment in midfield? Pavlović at least gives those in charge doubt and may reconsider their plans for the winter transfer market.
2023-12-18 08:01:57
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