5 Reasons why Bayern Munich is struggling right now

#3 Failing to bench non-performing players

Thomas Muller has not been in the best of forms of late

This isn't something new about Bayern. The club, over the last 4-5 years, has had a tendency to back senior players to regain form and even offered them with contract extensions when they are clearly past their prime.

While the said players have reaffirmed that faith with significantly improved performances, later on, the same has not been the case this time.

Thomas Muller had a fantastic start to the Bundesliga campaign wherein he contributed with two goals and an assist in the first two games of the season.

In the next five outings though, he has managed a solitary assist and has often looked like a fish out of the water. He has started 6 games and come off the bench in one fixture.

Muller has played as a No.10, a left midfielder, a central midfielder, and even as the second striker and flattered to deceive everywhere.

The Raumdeuter still started the game against Gladbach on Saturday in the midfield while James Rodriguez had to be shifted out of position on the left flank in order to incorporate the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner.

Coman's injury acts as a precedent as to why Robben has been given an extended run in the playing XI.

However, preferring Franck Ribery over Serge Gnabry despite the Frenchman's lack of impact on games is rather flabbergasting. Against Ajax last week, Gnabry was more of a threat in the 15 minutes that he played than Ribery for the rest of the match.

Lack of considerable playing time was the reason why Sebastian Rudy left for Schalke at the beginning of this season.

James Rodriguez has been reportedly unhappy with his role too at Bayern and he is a player the Bavarians cannot afford to let go of. It's time Niko Kovac takes the bold step and puts the non-performing players on the bench.