Benjamin Pavard caused irritation at Bayern with his publicly articulated change request. The 26-year-old also maneuvered himself offside in France’s national team at the World Cup in Qatar. How could this happen?
For Benjamin Pavard, the 2022 World Cup is likely to go down in his vita as a dark chapter – probably also regardless of the performance of France, which can continue to hope for the title defense before the quarter-final cracker against England on Saturday (8:00 p.m.) in Qatar.
In all probability, Pavard will not be on the pitch for a second for the Équipe Tricolore, as in the group matches against Denmark (2-1), Tunisia (0-1) and in the round of 16 against Poland (3-1).
What made Didier Deschamps do without the third-best defender of the Bundesliga season so far according to “kicker” ratings, France’s national coach explained surprisingly open-heartedly after the opening game against Australia (4-1), in which Pavard was still in the starting XI and until played through to the 89th minute.
Football World Cup 2022: Harsh criticism of Benjamin Pavard
The FC Bayern professional was “physically and mentally” unable to show a good performance, Deschamps said. He reported “several discussions” with Pavard, but did not want to go into further detail in his criticism.
The specialist magazine “kicker” revealed what was behind Deschamps’ sensational words: Accordingly, Pavard did not want to get involved in the tactical guidelines of the successful coach – more precisely the instruction to feed Ousmane Dembelé, who was positioned in front of him, with passes from the right side of defense.
Pavard’s problem: He has long struggled with the right-back position and prefers to play in the center of defence.
“As a result, he is restless and broods too much,” said former Bundesliga professional and current TV expert Johan Micoud on “Sport1”. “I don’t understand why Benjamin lets himself go like that and his shoulders just hang down.”
FC Bayern: Benjamin Pavard reveals his desire to change
Pavard, who is considered an idiosyncratic type, has recently smashed some porcelain at his employer in Munich.
In the run-up to the World Cup, he expressed his desire to leave the German record champions to the French “L’Équipe”: “I’m not against discovering a new project. Maybe now is the time. Why not a new country, a discover new culture?
CEO Oliver Kahn felt compelled to make a reply. “With us, nobody can initiate their departure with statements, especially not in public. We don’t have that,” said the 53-year-old in the “Sky” interview. “Benjamin knows what he has in Bayern. We also know what we have in him. We can classify and manage the emotions of the players, which sometimes go up and down.”
Benjamin Pavard (left) and France’s national coach Didier Deschamps
How the club bosses will deal with the Pavard cause is still unclear. His contract at Säbener Straße expires in 2024.
A fundamental decision is pending by next summer, since without an extension there is only a transfer fee for the professional.
How does FC Bayern plan with Benjamin Pavard?
According to media reports, FC Bayern had planned to work with him again in recent months because of Pavard’s decent to strong performances.
According to the “kicker”, he has also expressed his desire to play in central defense within the club in the future – a demand that those in charge around coach Julian Nagelsmann will undoubtedly not agree to.
You will also have to assess whether Pavard’s stubbornness poses a similar threat to the climate at Bayern as it does to the French.
There, the personnel should cause unrest in the cabin during the World Cup. According to “L’Équipe”, players like Dembelé oppose Pavard, others like captain Hugo Lloris or Olivier Giroud probably stick with the aD top performer
Speculations about the departure of Benjamin Pavard from FC Bayern
It seems impossible that Pavard, who was struggling with depression during the peak phase of the corona pandemic, will appear again for France in the further course of the World Cup.
“The future will show whether he will return or not,” said Deschamps assistant Guy Stephan evasively after the Poland game.
He doesn’t think “that Pavard will play another minute,” said ex-national player Jérôme Rothen on “RMC Sport”.
And speculation is also increasing about Pavard’s future in the club dress. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid should put out feelers for him. Even a winter change is supposedly not completely excluded.
Tobias Knoop