Bayern Munich’s struggles are hurting Germany national team

Thomas Muller has hinted that Bayern Munich’s slow start to the season was a factor in Germany’s shock 1-0 defeat at home to Hungary on Friday evening.

Die Mannschaft fell to a 17th-minute Adam Szalai goal to knock Hansi Flick’s side out of contention to reach next summer’s Nations League finals.

Speaking after the loss in Leipzig, Muller suggested that players’ struggles at club level have been carried into the national setup.

“The first half was very disappointing,” he said. “We made far too many mistakes and you could feel that many in their clubs are not going through the easiest phase. Without pressure we made mistakes and almost everyone was affected.”

Four of Germany’s starters on Friday – Muller, Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane – hail from Bayern Munich, who have won just three of their opening seven Bundesliga games so far this season. Gnabry was hooked at half-time by Flick for West Ham defender Thilo Kehrer, while Muller came off for Wolfsburg striker Lukas Nmecha with five minutes remaining.

Centre-back Niklas Sule departed Bayern for Borussia Dortmund this summer, and while BVB sit second in the Bundesliga table, the 27-year-old has started just once for his new club and is understandably lacking in match sharpness.

Germany travel to England on Monday in each side’s final game before the World Cup.