The decision to leave the attacker clicking his heels on the sidelines for more than 70 minutes did not go down well with the star’s other half
Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovac has accepted an apology from the wife of Thomas Muller after her social media criticism of the coach’s treatment of the Germany star.
Lisa Muller hit out at Kovac for leaving her husband on the bench for Saturday’s 1-1 Bundesliga draw against Freiburg, in which the champions conceded a late equaliser.
When Kovac prepared to bring on the forward during the second half, Lisa Muller posted on Instagram: “More than 70 minutes until he finally has a brain wave.”
Article continues below
Editors' Picks
Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi may have already played his final game for Inter Sarri vindicated for dropping Kepa as Chelsea & Pedro impress in Spurs win Magnificent Mane takes centre stage as league leaders Liverpool put on a five-star show Lukaku sends reminder that his Man Utd career is far from over
Although Thomas Muller downplayed his partner’s comments when he spoke to the media after the match, Bayern said on Sunday she visited Kovac to apologise.
“Lisa Muller, the wife of Thomas Muller, went directly after the Bundesliga game against Freiburg in the Allianz Arena to coach Niko and apologised for her Instagram post during the substitution of Thomas Muller,” Bayern’s statement said .
“Kovac accepted her apology.”
After the game, both Muller and Kovac had attempted to play down the criticism.
“It was out of emotion. In retrospect I don’t think it was super. But she just loves me, what should I do?” the Germany star signalled to Sky .
Kovac added: “There’s nothing to clarify. Obviously it wasn’t Thomas himself who wrote that.”
Serge Gnabry seemed to have earned his side three points with a late goal, only for Freiburg’s Lucas Holer to swoop in the 89th minute to the frustration of Kovac and his charges.
Bayern are second in the league, four points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.
Kovac’s men are next in action at home to AEK Athens in the Champions League on Wednesday.