Rival view: Pavlović waves off injury fears — Bayern shouldn’t

Aleksandar Pavlović insists there’s no setback, calling his latest problem an eye injury and saying the tonsil saga is long gone. Fine words. From a rival vantage point, though, Bayern fans shouldn’t exhale yet. These stop-start interruptions add up, and midfield rhythm doesn’t magically return overnight. While the player looks ahead, I’m looking at the calendar and Bayern’s fixture pile-up. Konrad Laimer’s bright form papers cracks, but it won’t carry a whole season. Leon Goretzka divides opinion and won’t calm nerves if Pavlović lingers out. The message from Säbener Straße is upbeat; my bet is this drags longer than they’ll admit.

Pavlović addressed media questions about his fitness, clarifying that his absence was due to an eye injury and that previous tonsil issues are behind him. Around the club, conversation has also focused on squad form and contract noise, with observers praising Konrad Laimer’s start to the season and separate reports discussing Dayot Upamecano’s renewal talks. The broader backdrop: Bayern juggle domestic and European objectives while managing early-season knocks and the scrutiny that comes with them.

Aleksandar Pavlović says he's annoyed with the talk about his injury record: "I didn't suffer a setback. It was an eye injury - the story with my tonsils is long behind me now. It annoys me that it keeps being brought up. I've put it behind me. I'm only looking ahead and giving

@iMiaSanMia

Impact Analysis

Strip away the optimistic soundbites, and the competitive reality bites: Bayern’s midfield balance is precarious without a fully sharp Aleksandar Pavlović. He is one of the few profiles in the squad who can both anchor possession under pressure and accelerate the first pass into attacking lanes. When those minutes disappear—or return at less than 100%—Thomas Tuchel’s successors have leaned on Laimer’s engine and Goretzka’s verticality, which skews the structure toward transitional chaos. That may thrill neutrals, but it invites defensive exposure, especially with fullbacks pushing high and center-backs occupied by isolation duties.

Yes, Laimer’s output to start the season has been excellent, but sustainability is the question, not a single-game burst. Goretzka remains a lightning rod: when he starts, critics fear the build-up loses subtlety; when he sits, Bayern look physically light. This is precisely why the club invested in multi-functional wide threats and relies on elite forwards to erase structural imperfections with goals. Still, elite opponents in Europe will target the six-space ruthlessly if Pavlović isn’t fully ready.

Layer in contract chatter—like the Upamecano signing-fee noise—and you’ve got distraction risk. It’s not fatal, but it is cumulative. In short: Bayern can survive a few weeks without Pavlović; they cannot thrive all spring if this becomes another on-off fitness watch. From a rival lens, there’s a window here to squeeze points before Bayern re-stabilize.

Reaction

The online pulse split quickly. Some Bayern voices doubled down on trust, applauding the player’s clarity and urging patience. Others couldn’t resist gallows humor, labeling him “fragile goods” and warning him to stay off social platforms if he dislikes the heat. A few observers pivoted to praise Konrad Laimer, noting—with numbers to hand—that he’s leading the side for chance creation, defensive actions, and carries into the final third, the implication being that Pavlović won’t be missed much if Laimer maintains that level.

Then came the speculation: is Pavlović actually scrolling his mentions? Several fans joked about burner accounts and him “being on here,” reading every barb. Another camp insisted the worry is misdirected, arguing that the real headache is the unresolved contract noise around other starters, which creates a thin layer of anxiety across the squad. Meanwhile, pragmatists begged for perspective: eye injuries happen, the tonsil episode is past, and the schedule demands rotation anyway.

From where I’m sitting, the loudest undercurrent is simple: confidence in Bayern’s machine remains, but trust in their medical momentum is wobbly. Praise for Laimer masks unease; the community wants a clean bill for Pavlović because they know the margins tighten in Europe. The banter is loud, the sarcasm louder, and the faith—conditional.

Social reactions

He didn't mention the STD 😂😂

Ben, The Creator (@BenEzimoha)

Good, you should be annoyed. That is the only thing standing between you and greatness! Take care of your health Pavlo.

Rozh Shexa (@RozhShexa)

When i find that Bes mf 😡

L.Prince (Parody) 👑 (@LeroyPrince77)

Prediction

Official lines will stay calm, hinting at “day-to-day” and “no risks.” My projection is less rosy: expect a drawn-out ramp-up—light training, non-contact work, then managed minutes off the bench—stretching longer than Bayern will advertise. Eye issues can be fickle; even when cleared, sharpness in scanning, timing, and receiving under pressure can lag. That’s not a smear—just the uncomfortable truth of elite midfield play.

Short term, Laimer’s workload grows, with Goretzka trusted in league fixtures to bulldoze weaker sides. In higher-leverage matches, the staff may hedge by tilting the structure toward double-pivot safety, sacrificing a touch of flair. If that holds, expect narrower winning margins and a heavier burden on Kane and the wide creators to solve games early.

Noise around squad contracts could briefly eclipse the injury chatter, but if Pavlović’s return drips rather than snaps back, the conversation will boomerang. Best-case for Bayern: he’s reintegrated within a few weeks and looks stable before the winter crunch. Rival take: circle a later date. I’d pencil full trust minutes well beyond the internal target—just in time for the title race to feel very real.

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Conclusion

Pavlović’s message is defiant: no setback, tonsils forgotten, eyes on the future. Respect the intent; question the timing. Bayern’s public stance will cushion nerves, but the pattern here—illness, then a fresh knock—chips away at rhythm, the one commodity a deep-lying midfielder cannot fake. Laimer’s surge is a valuable stopgap; Goretzka will soak up minutes and debate in equal measure. Yet none of that solves the six-space conundrum when the schedule compresses and opponents target the middle.

From a rival perch, this is the window to pounce. Force Bayern into attritional games, stretch their double pivot, and make every clearance a duel. Even if Pavlović returns soon, the conservative management that follows will blunt his impact for a while. Bayern will survive—they always do—but supremacy is about margins, and this erodes them. Believe the upbeat noises if you wish; I’ll believe the calendar, the workload, and the unavoidable rust. Advantage, for now, to everyone else.