Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed that five players are doubts for the Champions League clash with Arsenal.
The Bavarians are set to travel to the Emirates Stadium for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against the Gunners.
Bayern are already expected to be without the injured trio of Sacha Boey (hamstring), Bouna Sarr (knee) and Tarek Buchmann (muscle).
However, Tuchel has now revealed that Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Noussair Mazraoui and Aleksandar Pavlovic are unavailable for Saturday's league game against Heidenheim and are regarded as doubts for the first leg with Arsenal.
"None of them five are being rested for Tuesday," Tuchel told reporters at Friday's press conference. "They're not in the squad because they're not fit, so they're a doubt for Tuesday. There's no tendency. Every minute counts."
Neuer missed the recent defeat to Borussia Dortmund after tearing a muscle in his left adductor while he was on international duty with Germany.
Sane is believed to be struggling with a groin injury, while Coman is contending with a muscle problem despite only returning from injury in the Klassiker.
Defender Mazraoui and midfielder Pavlovic are both hoping to recover from illness in time for the trip to the English capital.
In more positive news, Raphael Guerreiro is set to return to Saturday's matchday squad after the ex-Dortmund left-back missed out against his former club due to an injury issue.
Champions League to define Bayern's season
Tuchel will hope to get as many players back as possible for the crucial first-leg encounter against Mikel Arteta's side.
Bayern's entire 2023-24 campaign depends on the outcome of their Champions League journey, having failed to meet their usual high standards in the domestic competitions.
The Bavarians are set to miss out on the Bundesliga title for the time in 12 years, with Tuchel's side currently sitting 13 points adrift of leaders Leverkusen.
Bayern also lost to RB Leipzig in August's German Super Cup clash and were eliminated in the second round of the DFB-Pokal by third-tier Saarbrucken in November.
Although Tuchel is set to leave Bayern at the end of the campaign, he will still want to avoid finishing his tenure without a trophy this season. body check tags ::