Niko Kovac Bayern Munich Bundesliga 28092018

Sacking Kovac out of the question, insists Bayern chief Hoeness

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has dismissed talk of the club sacking coach Niko Kovac following another defeat.

The Bundesliga champions suffered a third defeat of the season on Sunday as they lost 3-2 to archrivals Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park.

Bayern now sit seven points behind Lucien Favre's league leaders in a worrisome start to the season since new boss Kovac replaced Jupp Heynckes in the summer.

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The pressure is said to be increasing on the former Eintracht Frankfurt and Croatia boss, but Hoeness has already insisted that he will not be sacked this term, even if they fail to defend their league crown.

And the Bavarian side's leader has defended Kovac once again, insisting that their most recent slip up will not change the club's stance.

"Our manager is out of the question," Hoeness told Sky Sport. "Our team is in very good condition. The team does not play for the coach, but for Bayern Munich and they do it well.

"I am less depressed today than I was after the defeat against Gladbach [last month]."

As well as having no plans to change the coach this season, Hoeness distanced the German giants from going on a spending spree in January to address the problem.

"The second phase of change comes only in the summer," he added. "Since some have hardly played yet, they are practically newcomers, we have 15 or 16 internationals and a strong team."

Hoeness was, however, surprised that Mats Hummels played for the first 65 minutes before being replaced by Niklas Sule, as the defender revealed he had a cold after a particularly poor display.

"That statement amazed me," he said. "Especially as the coach was informed that he was weakened in the game, and you have to have 11 players who are warriors, who are physically fit, and you have been on the bench with Sule as a replacement for Hummels, so this decision is not necessarily understandable."

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