By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- It is hard to find a Bayern fan not admitting to having fallen in love with Philippe Coutinho. Every time the 27-year-old Brazilian midfielder turns at the Saebener Strasse, you get a feeling what is meant by "Coutinhomania."
Over the past few decades, a lot of football's greatest performers have worn Bayern Munich's shirt, but expectations and enthusiasm haven't been as high as now. With the Brazilian around, expectations are growing, not least for the Champions League.
His team-mates praise his unique technical skills and game shaping qualities after his performances in his first few games.
Niko Kovac isn't known for overwhelming comments but talking about his new arrival the 47-year-old seems to get carried away like all others. "He is lifting the team to a new dimension," Bayern's coach emphasizes.
Bayern's sports director Hasan Salihamidzic is saying the team is benefitting from his creativity and imagination. "We are all looking forward to seeing many more games."
Bayern's new hero doesn't seem to bother much. "I am not a superstar. I am a footballer wanting to play and feel well," he says. Humble is the most used phrase in German media when reporting about him.
"I am feeling more and more at home every day," Coutinho is underlining. A statement that is meant to include his wife Aine and the kids Marie and Esmeralda.
German media named him Bayern's new Escapologist as the Brazilian is unfolding his outstanding skills in narrow spaces on the pitch. "The entire forwarding line is benefitting from that," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is underlining.
Needless to mention, that Bayern is hoping the midfielder is going to stay for longer than one year. Bayern paid 8,5 million Euro for the on-loan midfielder to Barcelona but has a buying option worth 120 million.
It seems a joint agreement that success in the Champions League is deciding about his future in Munich. The 2013 treble winners' squad might be strong enough to outpace its national rivals. To reach the semifinal or final of international competition, the 29 times German Champion has to pin its hopes fully on him.
The first games proved Coutinho is on his way to Bayern's conducting leader aside of him having to compete against club legend Thomas Mueller about the position behind the front line. While Mueller might stand for a spontaneous game is Coutinho, the man ruling the entire 90 minutes.
So far, Kovac managed to deal with the delicate issue perfectly. Things might change when crunch time in the Champions League is approaching in spring 2020. "Both of them playing might be too risky, but it is great to have that many options," Kovac commented. Enditem