Bayern Munich coach, Niko Kovac, admitted Thursday to a “mistake” in comments in which he suggested Thomas Mueller would play only in an emergency.
“Everything is cleared up. He understood it the way I meant it and not at face value,” Kovak said.
Midfielder Mueller, 30, has lost his place in the starting line-up since the arrival of Philippe Coutinho at the German champions.
Kovac had said Mueller would get an opportunity when there was a shortage, leading to the former Germany international saying he would have the consider his future at the club.
“The statement was a mistake, of course. I did not mean it like I said it. I spoke with Thomas the next day and he understood it the way I meant it,” Kovac said.
He added that “all players who are not playing are unhappy, but I can only pick 11 players and I always try to find the best solution for the matchday.”
Mueller could get a chance Saturday at fellow Bavarians Augsburg in the Bundesliga should Kovac decide to rest Coutinho following the midfielder’s exertions with Brazil.
“Of course, I won’t tell you who is playing at the weekend. I still have two days to think about it,” Kovac told reporters.
Bayern’s internationals have returned “all healthy” from the international break. They include defender Lucas Hernandez, whose appearance for France was reportedly not to Bayern’s liking following his long injury lay-off.
However Kovac said he was pleased the Bundesliga record signing got match practice by playing 90 minutes against Turkey on Monday.
