Alphonso Davies: "Bayern Munich want to give me game time"
Bayern Munich winger Alphonso Davies has drawn a positive conclusion to his first six months in the Bundesliga following his move from the Vancouver Whitecaps in the winter transfer window.
The 18-year-old made his top-flight debut on Matchday 19 in a 4-1 win over VfB Stuttgart, the first of six appearances totaling 74 minutes as head coach Niko Kovac eased the Canada international into life in Germany, while he was an unused substitute a further seven times.
Davies even scored his maiden Bundesliga goal on Matchday 26, finishing off a 6-0 rout of Mainz at the Allianz Arena.
Watch: Davies' first Bundesliga goal (from 1:42)
"There's no pressure whatsoever from the club," he told Germany's Bild newspaper. "They want to build me up, that I get my game time and that I get used to the league. It's difficult to come over from Canada as a youngster and play for one of the best teams in the world. They're giving me all the time I need and their plan has been very good so far."
The Bayern hierarchy seem equally pleased with the teenager, with sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic calling him a "machine" last month after witnessing him help the reserve side gain promotion to the third division.
And according to Davies, there is more to come: "We've got a good crop of young players. KC – Kingsley Coman – Serge [Gnabry] and me are all young and hungry to play. I'm sure that everyone will get their chance to blossom and shine at this club."
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Opportunities look set to increase in Davies' favoured wide positions in the 2019/20 campaign following the departures of club legends Arjen Robben (35) and Franck Ribery (36), although the Bayern No.19 was sad to see them leave.
"They're both just unbelievable," he said. "They're still incredible players, even at that age. Just look at Franck on the last day of the season, the way he dribbled past two Frankfurt players before scoring, in the way only he can. And when you look at how Robben still leaves his marker behind… they're great players."
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