Bayern Strikes
Fansided

Takeaways as Bayern Munich survive late scare from Hoffenheim

By Joshua Bishop

05 February 2020, Bavaria, Munich: Football: DFB Cup, Bayern Munich - 1899 Hoffenheim, Round of 16 in the Allianz Arena. David Alaba (l-r), Alvaro Odriozola, Joshua Kimmich, Corentin Tolisso, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from FC Bayern Munich celebrate their victory with the fans after the game. Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to exploit or have exploited in the stadium and/or from the game taken photographs in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo series. (Photo by Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images)
05 February 2020, Bavaria, Munich: Football: DFB Cup, Bayern Munich - 1899 Hoffenheim, Round of 16 in the Allianz Arena. David Alaba (l-r), Alvaro Odriozola, Joshua Kimmich, Corentin Tolisso, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from FC Bayern Munich celebrate their victory with the fans after the game. Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to exploit or have exploited in the stadium and/or from the game taken photographs in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo series. (Photo by Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images) /
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Bayern Munich’s Brazil Philippe Coutinho reacts during the German Cup (DFB Pokal) round of 16 football match FC Bayern Munich v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Munich, southern German on February 5, 2020. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP) / DFB REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND QUASI-VIDEO. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Bayern Munich’s Brazil Philippe Coutinho reacts during the German Cup (DFB Pokal) round of 16 football match FC Bayern Munich v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Munich, southern German on February 5, 2020. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP) / DFB REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND QUASI-VIDEO. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images) /

What’s Happened to Coutinho?

When Philippe Coutinho was brought on loan from Barcelona back in the summer, the move was met with both skepticism and optimism. Although he didn’t have the most productive time at Barca, he is still an incredibly talented attacker with elite dribbling skills. The idea behind this move was that he would spend a year here in Bavaria, find his confidence again, and dominate Bundesliga opposition. Unfortunately, that has yet to be the case, and one would have thought this would be the match where he could show off his abilities.

Hansi Flick has arguably had a positive impact on every single player on the roster, except Philippe Coutinho, and this match is an example of that. Employed on the left-wing due to Ivan Perisic‘s injury, Coutinho should have been fresh and ready to go. He isn’t the fastest player in the world, but his quick dribbling skills should have benefited him more than they did. Often he would get in the possession and look to take defenders on even when a pass out of pressure was the much better option. He looked as if he was trying to single-handedly beat Hoffenheim when that is not what Bayern want to do.

One aspect to Flick’s coaching and gameplan is quick passing and off the ball movement. Coutinho has gotten better at moving off the ball but still needs to learn to move the ball quicker and let the ball do the work rather than doing it himself. Since the winter break, this tactic has worked wonders for Die Roten. If Coutinho wants to get consistent game time in big matches, he has to buy into this concept. Thomas Muller isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and Kingsley Coman is returning from injury soon, so Coutinho needs to improve quickly if he is to get meaningful minutes.