FC Köln head coach explains Bayern Munich loanee Felipe Chávez’s lack of playing time…again

TL;DR

Felipe Chávez, on loan from Bayern Munich to FC Köln, has played only 62 minutes this season. Manager René Wagner cited the competition for starting spots as a reason for Chávez's lack of playing time.

Key points

Felipe Chávez is on loan from Bayern Munich to FC Köln.
He has played only 62 minutes this season.
Manager René Wagner cited competition for starting spots as a reason for his limited playtime.

Felipe ChávezFC KölnBayern MunichBayer Leverkusen

COLOGNE, GERMANY - MARCH 21: Felipe Chavez of 1. FC Köln plays the ball during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach at RheinEnergieStadion on March 21, 2026 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Ralf Ibing - firo sportphoto/Getty Images) | Getty Images Felipe Chávez perhaps did not get a lot of playing time at Bayern Munich this season, but what he did show was fairly impressive. Manager Vincent Kompany even brought the 18-year-old onto the field in a loss to FC Augsburg, underlining the faith the Belgian had in the youngster. It would be this exposure to the Bundesliga that put Chávez on the radar of some clubs, with Köln the team that eventually signed the Peruvian international on loan as he looked to take the next steps in his development by playing regularly at a high level. But, clearly, Köln did not get memo. In the months he has been at the club under both former Köln manager Lukas Kwasniko and current manager René Wagner, Chávez has made no starts and has accumulated just 62 minutes from a possible 900 total. Surely both Bayern and Chávez expected more from this loan. Asked about the youngster in a press conference ahead of a Bundesliga clash against Bayer Leverkusen, Wagner gave a very vague answer: “Felipe gives it his all in every training session, he’s a young player and has high quality with the ball. All the guys who haven’t been in the starting lineup lately are throwing themselves into it,” Wagner attempted to explain, as captured by . “That’s why the decisions aren’t easy for the coaching team.” It sure does not sound as if the talented attacking midfielder will get a chance to start anytime soon for the relegation threatened club. *If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on , , , or any leading podcast distributor…*

Q&A

Why is Felipe Chávez not getting more playing time at FC Köln?

Felipe Chávez has only accumulated 62 minutes of playtime due to competition for starting spots and the team's struggles, as noted by manager René Wagner.

What did FC Köln manager René Wagner say about Felipe Chávez's performance?

René Wagner praised Chávez for his effort in training and acknowledged his quality, but indicated that the decisions on starting players are challenging for the coaching team.

How many minutes has Felipe Chávez played for FC Köln this season?

Felipe Chávez has played just 62 minutes out of a possible 900 minutes since joining FC Köln on loan.