Bayern Munich had yet another frustrating campaign when it came to serious injuries for key players. The Bavarian club has missed several players for lengthy periods throughout the season. Lucas Hernandez and Manuel Neuer have missed most games for Bayern as they have been on the sidelines since December.
Hernandez recovered from a minor injury in time to be selected in the French squad for the World Cup 2022. However, the French defender’s World Cup ended after a few minutes in the first group game against Australia.
The former Atletico Madrid defender ruptured his ACL during the game against Australia. He had to undergo surgery to repair the damage. Hernandez was ruled out for the rest of the season. There was a slim chance of playing again this season for Hernandez if Bayern had reached the finals of the DFB Pokal and Champions League.
Lucas Hernandez has been making steady progress in his recovery from this serious injury. The French international is already training on the grass. While talking to the media on Friday (via iMiaSanMia), Thomas Tuchel expressed his excitement about working with Hernandez. The German coach considers Hernandez as one of the key players in the squad.
"“I can’t wait for him to be on the pitch with us. It’s impressive how professional he is. He always has a smile on his face, he’s always positive, even though he’s in a difficult situation. For me he is clearly a leading player.”"
Hernandez was in fine form for Bayern before going to the World Cup 2022. The French defender is an aggressive center-back in the team that allows Die Roten to play on the front foot. The 27-year-old defender is fairly good with the ball, making him a perfect center-back for different systems.
Considering the dip in the form of Dayot Upamecano, Hernandez may become the first-choice center-back for Thomas Tuchel next season. He is likely to be paired with Matthijs de Ligt at the start of next season with Benjamin Pavard largely used in the right-back position.
Bayern has been holding talks with Lucas Hernandez for a contract renewal during the second half of the season. The record Bundesliga champions are expected to finalise a new deal before the end of the season, highlighting Hernandez’s importance in the squad. He will be spending the peak years of his career in Bavaria after signing this long-term contract.
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Lucas Hernandez is expected to be back in the first-team training before the start of the pre-season tour. Along with Hernandez, Manuel Neuer will also be fit for the start of the next season. Tuchel will hope that he will have much better luck with injuries next season as Bayern looks to challenge on all fronts.