Bayern Munich interim coach Aaron Danks addressed the media ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League showdown against Atlético Madrid, discussing several important selection decisions, the availability of key players, and what he expects from Diego Simeone’s side.
With Ismael Saibari and Serge Gnabry unavailable, one of the biggest questions concerns who will occupy the attacking midfield position. Danks suggested that Bayern have several possibilities but emphasized that whoever gets the opportunity
must bring their own qualities to the role.
“We need to sit down together tonight to see who can fill the gaps. Anyone can take on the role, but everyone has their own way of interpreting it. No one should imitate anyone else; instead, everyone should play to their own strengths—that’s what we expect. The final decision will rest with those we trust to make the most of all their strengths,” Danks said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
There was more encouraging news regarding Michael Olise and Manuel Neuer, both of whom returned to the training pitch this morning. However, their respective workloads and physical reactions will determine whether they can start or feature from the bench.
“Michael joined us on the grass this morning, as did Manuel Neuer. Now we have to see how they react. We’ll assess them tonight and tomorrow, but both are available. We just need to see whether it’s from the start of the game or off the bench,” Danks remarked.
Neuer’s potential return also leaves the starting goalkeeper decision unresolved. Jonas Urbig was involved in training as well, and Danks confirmed that Bayern will wait until tomorrow morning before making the call.
“हमने haven’t made a decision yet; we’ll decide together. Manuel Neuer was in training, as was Jonas Urbig. We want to see how they both respond. It was Manuel’s first first-team training session; we’ll make the decision tomorrow morning,” Danks stated.
Danks was also asked about the importance of finishing in the top eight of the Champions League league phase, which would guarantee direct qualification to the Round of 16. While Bayern certainly have that ambition, he stressed the importance of concentrating on one match at a time.
“I think if we look at the recent winners, it has to be said that they all had tough matches. There are many different ways that lead to winning the title. We haven’t set any expectations yet as to where we want to be—obviously, finishing in the top 8 is the goal if possible, but the most important thing is to always keep tomorrow’s match in focus and take care of every game one at a time,” said Danks.
Finally, Danks offered his assessment of Atlético Madrid, acknowledging the evolution of Simeone’s team while recognizing that its traditional defensive identity remains firmly intact. Bayern, meanwhile, intend to approach the contest with their usual aggressive mentality.
“It’s going to be a top game. You’ve seen the evolution of Atleti over the last few seasons. They still have their core identity, their strength, and their togetherness when they defend. But they’re also very good with their possession and their football. We approach it in the same way we approach every game: we want to be aggressive, we want to be on the front foot, both with the ball and without the ball. So we’ll want to go and win it back at the earliest opportunity. We’ll want to play our football and really go and express ourselves,” Danks said.
Bayern have some important decisions to make before kickoff, particularly regarding the goalkeeper position, Olise’s involvement, and who fills the attacking midfield vacancy.
There is no shortage of complications heading into this one, but Danks is making it clear that Bayern will not abandon their identity. Against an Atlético Madrid team that thrives on making opponents uncomfortable, playing aggressively, winning the ball back quickly, and imposing their own style will be essential.
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