It is hard to believe that, three years ago at the time of writing, Aleksandar Pavlović was just starting to break into Bayern Munich’s U-23s, collecting under 300 minutes in total. He would likely have been loaned out after the season ended if not for an injury that kept him out past the end of the transfer window or buried under the depth chart if the signing João Palhinha had happened that summer. Instead, none of that happened and he started getting minutes for Bayern’s senior side in a season that would culminate
in the teenager starting in a Champions League semifinal match against at the home of the kings of the competition, Real Madrid.
Imagine the pressure he was under.
Yet the youngster acquitted himself very well and, despite the Bavarians bowing out, he could hold his head high. Two years on from that tie, he is set to again feature against Los Blancos, this time in the quarterfinals of the UCL. This time, however, he is not the new kid on the block anymore and has a lot more responsibility on his shoulders.
In an interview with club magazine Säbener51, Pavlović addressed that responsibility and the role he has as the metronome of the team. “I always try to be available for my teammates, demand the ball and distribute it cleanly,” the former SC Olching youth player explained, as captured by @iMiaSanMia. “I’m constantly scanning my whole surroundings. I also need to know what’s going on behind me, that’s a basic principle for midfielders. I now realise my teammates consciously search me out in tight situations. Also because they know that I’m always there and usually have good solutions ready. I really enjoy this role in the team.”
Pavlović will need to demonstrate the same quality he now regularly brings against Real, but one can see in his performances this season that he has made these demonstrations a habit. If he can again stand out in the Bernabeu, Bayern will be one step closer to finally overcoming their rivals once more.
