Alphonso Davies at FC Bayern Munich: So-called left-back

Alphonso Davies has been one of the most consistent players at Bayern Munich this season. The 21-year-old so-called left-back can also develop his potential thanks to a tactical change by coach Julian Nagelsmann.

It was almost exactly two years ago that Alphonso Davies suddenly became a regular at Bayern. As Niko Kovac’s team fell apart, the stumbling coach tested the then 18-year-old Canadian as a left-back in desperation. Kovac had to leave shortly afterwards, but Davies was allowed to stay.

In its impressive first season, brilliant performances alternated with disappointing ones, such as the victories in the Champions League against FC Chelsea and FC Barcelona. In the past season Davies then temporarily lost his form, also due to injury problems and a red card suspension.

And now? Now Davies is one of the most consistent players at FC Bayern, perhaps only topped by striker Robert Lewandowski. His performance fluctuates between excellent and solid, he is never really weak. Davies is undisputedly placed under Julian Nagelsmann at the back left, where the back left is actually nonsense. The new coach finally abolished the position of left-back.

Alphonso Davies benefits from a tactical change

The introduction of an asymmetrical defense chain was one of Nagelsmann’s greatest tactical changes compared to the alignment under his predecessor Hansi Flick. When he owns the ball, the right-back – mostly Benjamin Pavard, Niklas Süle or Josip Stanisic – tends to hold back and form a chain of three with the two central defenders.

This protection enables the so-called left-back Davies to act like a left winger and develop his full offensive potential. In the real-tactical constellation, his center of action is often at the same level as that of the respective right-winger. He has already delivered five assists this season. He initiated many more goals with penultimate actions, such as Lewandowski’s 2-0 against SC Freiburg. “Now he’s playing a bit more offensively than in the last two years,” explains Nagelsmann. A little bit? Pah!

By the way, a positive side effect of this change was the considerable increase in form of Leroy Sane: He no longer has to stick to the line on the left wing because of Davies’ presence. Instead, he can play where he likes it best. Sane’s filigree and Davies’ speed and dynamics complement each other perfectly.

Alphonso Davies and the best left-backs

“He has extremely good physical conditions to be one of the best left-backs,” said Nagelsmann after the win against Freiburg, thought for a moment and then said: “He probably is. Because there are so many at his level not on his Position.”

Who else would be considered? Andrew Robertson from Liverpool FC maybe, Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell, Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo or Lucas Hernandez’s brother Theo from AC Milan. In any case, Davies does not need to hide from any of these candidates. Nagelsmann emphasized almost as a threat: “He still has a lot of potential. We are already enjoying him a lot and will have even more.”

Incidentally, this joy relates not only to the purely footballing, but also to the interpersonal. “He is an extremely cheerful person who sings and laughs a lot. He has a very positive charisma, is simply a good-hearted person,” said Nagelsmann.

In fact, Davies is always fooling around, both in real life and on social media. All of this reminds a bit of joker predecessors like Franck Ribery or Thomas Müller, who is still the absolute leader in the club in this regard.

Alphonso Davies is aiming for a World Cup participation with Canada

At the moment, it can be assumed that the 21-year-old Davies will stay with FC Bayern as a player longer than the eleven-year-old Müller. “I am enjoying the time and I will see myself here for a long time,” he emphasized last. His contract runs until 2025.

With FC Bayern, Davies can only repeat triumphs in the future, after all, he has long since won everything. However, there is still new territory to be broken with with the Canadian national team, which he wants to lead to the second World Cup participation after 1986. In the North American qualifying group, she is currently in third place, which would mean a direct starting position. Fourth place still leads to the intercontinental playoffs.

In the national team, by the way, Davies is not just a disguised left winger, but a highly official one – and above all a highly efficient one. In the past four international matches, he was directly involved in four out of six goals.

North American World Cup qualification: the table