Bayern Munich star Corentin Tolisso has struggled to perform at the Allianz Arena and is blocking the development of Mickael Cuisance.
Bayern Munich have quite a stacked midfield department. One of the best, in fact, boasting the services of Thiago Alcantara, Corentin Tolisso, Leon Goretzka, Javi Martinez, Mickael Cuisance and even Joshua Kimmich.
However, one player who has really struggled to make a mark at the Allianz Arena is Tolisso. The French midfielder arrived in Bavaria back in 2017, in a whopping €41.5 million move from Olympique Lyonnais. But, he has never really managed to live up to his billing.
Hence, it’s about time Bayern should part ways with the French Worl`d Cup winner as they look to usher in a new era under Niko Kovac. And here, at the Hard Tackle, we will take a deep dive into Tolisso’s struggles in the Bundesliga.
Bad performances and injuries
Tolisso is undoubtedly one of the most talented midfielders in the Bundesliga. He has put in some great displays during his time in Germany. But, the 25-year-old always seemed like a mismatch in the Bayern setup, especially under the tutelage of Kovac.
His display against Crvena Zvezda in the Champions League, in particular, is enough to draw question marks over his credibility. Indeed, the Frenchman was increasingly sloppy with passes, and while Thiago did a great job of augmenting the midfield, Tolisso looked clueless, at times.
In a 4-2-3-1 system for Bayern, the partnering midfielder is largely expected to act as a ball-carrier and also to support the number six during defensive phases. Tolisso did neither of those things. In possession, the 25-year-old mainly looked to thread risky passes while he was absent most of the time during a defensive stance.
Tactical incompatibility is not the only issue Tolisso is facing Bayern. The ex-Lyon star notably suffered an ACL injury in 2018 that kept him out for almost 200 days. He has already faced five different spells on the sidelines due to fitness troubles, during his ongoing two-year spell in Bavaria. Needless to say, these injuries played a key role in halting his progress.
Growing competition
Even if Tolisso intends to impress Kovac in the coming games, it is unlikely he will be given the opportunity to do so given the growing competition in the Bayern midfield.
Thiago is the club’s undisputed number six and is a guaranteed starter whenever he is fit. Leon Goretzka is currently recognised as Kovac’s go-to man in the double pivot system, with Martinez serving as an alternative. Bayern, meanwhile, also signed Cuisance this summer.
And to make things worse, Kimmich has returned to his midfield role and has impressed as well, with Benjamin Pavard acting as a right-back. It could take a huge toll on Tolisso’s overall game-time at Bayern.
Perks of selling Tolisso
Tolisso’s potential sale next summer or even in January could be hugely beneficial for Bayern Munich. First and foremost, it would help them cut down on wages, which, in turn, could help them recover their wage structure, especially after the arrival of Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian is currently the club’s highest earner. And should he impress at Bayern this season, Tolisso’s departure would help the Bavarians fund a permanent move for the ex-Liverpool star next summer. But most importantly, Tolisso’s potential departure will pave the way for Cuisance to play a more prominent role in the first-team.
The Frenchman joined from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer but has featured in only 11 minutes for his new club. The youngster has fallen behind Tolisso, Martinez and Goretzka in the pecking order. But, if Tolisso leaves, Cuisance can potentially become a key member of the Bayern Munich midfield, especially with Martinez nearing the final phase of his career.
The 20-year-old has already shown a lot of potential during his time at Gladbach, although he was extremely inconsistent. His dynamic nature in midfield is ideally suited to Kovac’s aggressive and fluid tactical setup.
The Croatian mastermind, himself, is known for his proficiency of nurturing young talents – something Bayern Munich have struggled with in the last half-a-decade. And potentially, Cuisance is a better fit at the club than Tolisso, which is reason enough for the Bundesliga giants to part ways with the latter.
