James Rodríguez's relationship with Bayern's Croatian coach Niko Kovac has made headlines for all the wrong reasons, and the tactician's latest words will surely not go down well among James' inner circle.
Speaking after one of the team's training sessions in Dubai, Kovac did not hold back when he was asked his opinion about the Colombian, who has not been included regularly in the team's lineups. The former Real Madrid footballer has been sidelined since November due to an injury, but now that he is back in the team's training sessions, Kovac hinted that he will not have it easy to feature for the Bavarians.
"I am delighted to have him around. I know he is a top player and I am aware of what he can do. But now, he must show that he deserves to be considered as a starter. I expect him to be decisive for us," Kovac said.
Rodríguez has been pretty harsh with his comments about Kovac's tactics for Bayern.
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Kovac went on to analyze the team's situation for the rest of the Bundesliga, where the team is currently six points behind league leaders Borussia Dortmund. According to Kovac, he will need to get the most out of his players, including James, to revert the situation in which Die Roten got into.
"We finished the first half of the season strong, and we have top-caliber players in each position. We will have a tough time getting back to the top spot, which is why I will need James and everyone else to show all their skills," Kovac added.
Bayern's first Bundesliga match is set to be played on January 18, when they make the trip to face Hoffenheim. Only time will tell if Rodríguez can earn a spot in the team's lineup for that game.
