Chris Richards has impressed Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick over the past season-and-a-half and was rewarded with his first Bundesliga start on Sunday.
The former FC Dallas product was named in Flick’s starting lineup for Bayern’s league clash with Hertha Berlin. Richards did not disappoint for the Bundesliga giants, registering his first assist along the way in an eventual 4-3 victory.
Und so spielen wir gegen die Hertha! ?#FCBBSC #packmas pic.twitter.com/5tR3M3OPw5
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) October 4, 2020
After seeing his earlier effort denied by VAR, Richards connected with Robert Lewandowski in the 51st minute. Richards low cross was received by the Polish striker, before he turned and rifled a shot into the bottom corner.
Chris Richards got the start for Bayern Munich and assisted on the Lewandowski goal ?? #FCBBSC pic.twitter.com/S6Ax8IJ0Cl
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) October 4, 2020
He was substituted off in the 65th minute before Lewandowski scored twice more in a bounce back league win for Bayern. Richards completed 89% of his passes in his performance, while also winning one duel and making two recoveries.
The 20-year-old made his Bundesliga debut back on June 20th in Bayern’s eventual 3-1 win over Freiburg last season. He also featured on opening day of this season, playing the final 17 minutes of Bayern’s 8-0 thumping of Schalke at the Allianz Arena.
The U.S. Men’s National Team prospect will now look to retain his starting spot on Thursday in a German Cup trip to lower-league side Duren.
Chris Richard almost pulled off a Gio Reyna’s 3 assists on his first Bundesliga start. One Thomas Muller was offside by a nose before Muller headed in Richard’s delicate cross. The other cross from Richard, Lewandowsky’s header was going into the far post, but the Hertha’s goalie made a brilliant save.
While impressive that he got the start, I thought Richards was fairly tentative and quite as a RB outside the 2 assists (1 called back for offsides).
Still the fact he’s now making appearances for Bayern puts him directly into the conversation for the USMNT A-Team roster.
Would love to see us try a 3-4-3 formation at some point:
—–Pulisic——-Sargent——-Reyna—–
Robinson——McKennie——Adams——Dest
—–Richards——Brooks——Miazga——
–
Pulisic & Reyna playing pinched and under Sargent with Dest & A. Robinson providing the width.
You’d rather play Miazga than Morris? I get people want a 3 man backline because they’re nervous about Dest and Robinson but if you want to be play 3 CBs you lose an attacker.
If you want 3 in the back you need a central center back who can be a center mid and can pick out line breaking passes. Or three in the back becomes a five in the back and all you do is absorb an attack.
for the millionth time, why do we have to wait on bayern? he was the best or at least one of the best U20s at worlds. this trajectory was clear months ago. we instead sent him to U23 last year.
Have you watched his Bayern appearances? Not highlights the whole appearance? They’ve been pretty nervy. He wasn’t ready last fall to play Mex or Uruguay or against David and Davies for Canada. Interesting that you complain about what you call “club snobs” and then use Bayern playing him almost a full year later as evidence he should have played. Guys especially 19 year olds do generally improve over a years time.
JR: my issue on club snobs is the reflexive defense of problem players based on their club location. it is not about the worthy players for good clubs — but that is location meets performance. it is snobs who think that anyone who dons a jersey for a decent team must be better than even a good player in MLS or another lesser league.
BM continues to progress Richards into more responsibility so i think they disagree with your assessment. what amuses me is the “club minutes” Berhalter fanboy obsessives pretzeling themselves all over as young players work through their career arcs. talk them up at U20, talk them down on age group or II teams (and likely talk up a lesser player at a lesser team who made their first team faster), then talk them back up at the first team. how about sticking to talent is talent and not panicking?
Richards plays same position as Dest? If yes moving Dest up to winger midfield, leave Richards at RB and Reyna at CAM?
Richards is primarily a center back, but #1 it’s great that he is earning playing time and #2 it great for a center back to also have some additional skill set. Interesting that Dest’s choosing Barca may have opened some things up for Richards.
As postmaster said he’s primarily a CB but did play RB about half the time for Bayern II last year. Bayern is probably deeper at CB right now so it’s a way to get him some minutes and get him comfortable for the future.
i would assume it’s a combination of youth and CB stocked up at BM. you can recover from a wingback mistake better than a CB mistake, which tends to cost you. so while you test him, he plays wide. i hope GB doesn’t read too much into it — he seems to like to pigeonhole — because WE NEED CENTERBACKS. you’re like, well, effective but a little nervous. have you seen what the US runs out right now?? it’s kind of like the 2020 campaign bumper stickers — Any Functioning Adult for President, 2020.
Richards has been tentative thus far at right back but just assisted a beautifully-taken goal from Robert Lewandowski.
I am watching this game right now, gratz to Richards! Cannot wait to see him suited up for the US mens nats.