Alphonso Davies could be rested as Bayern Munich consider rotation against Mainz

Bayern Munich could leave Alphonso Davies out of their starting line-up for Saturday’s Bundesliga trip to FSV Mainz 05 as the club look to manage the defender’s workload.

The 26-year-old has featured regularly in recent weeks, prompting concerns within the coaching staff about the physical demands placed on him following his return to action.

Speaking at Friday’s press conference, assistant coach Aaron Danks explained that Bayern would carefully assess several players before deciding on their involvement against Mainz, with Davies among those being monitored.

“With some players, we need to look at their workload and decide whether to give them a rest. Alphonso Davies, for example, is someone we need to be careful with. Because of his explosive style of play, he needs recovery periods and cannot play 90 minutes in every game,” Danks explained.

Davies has recently featured in an advanced role, appearing against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund before starting Bayern’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid on Tuesday.

The Canadian’s demanding playing style makes recovery particularly important, with Bayern keen to avoid putting unnecessary physical pressure on him.

Reduced playing time also an option

Despite the possibility of being rested, Davies has not necessarily been ruled out of Saturday’s encounter.

Danks suggested that the defender could still feature from the beginning, although his minutes might be restricted depending on his physical condition.

“Perhaps Phonzy feels so good that we only need to manage his playing minutes,” the Bayern assistant coach added.

The coaching staff also have several alternatives available, particularly in the full-back positions, allowing them to rotate without significantly changing their preferred tactical approach.

Bayern will make their final decision after assessing the players during Friday’s training session.

Davies’ involvement against Mainz will therefore depend on how well he has recovered from his recent run of fixtures, with the club prioritising his fitness ahead of the upcoming international break.