WITHwipe the man everyone’s looking at and his new boss got down to business straight away. Julian Nagelsmann recently competed against Hasan Salihamidzic in padel tennis, the sport is in on Säbener Strasse. The new coach and the FC Bayern sports director fought an intense match. “We are all extremely ambitious. This creates tension, and that’s a good thing, ”said Nagelsmann.
This week his team built up more tension every day. This Friday (8.30 p.m., highlight video right after the final whistle at WELTplus), she opens the Bundesliga season with the top game at Borussia Mönchengladbach. For Nagelsmann it is the beginning of a delicate mission. The expectations of him are enormous – the conditions so far have been anything but ideal. The week so far has been dominated by discussions about the quality of the management and personnel concerns. “It’s a challenging start, Gladbach a very good opponent,” said Nagelsmann.
The new management team at FC Bayern: Sports director Hasan Salihamidzic (left), coach Julian Nagelsmann and CEO Oliver Kahn (right)
Those: AFP / MARCO DONATO
For Bayern, the game is the first competitive game of the new season, almost a cold start. Their encounter with Bremer SV in the DFB Cup, which was scheduled for last Friday, was postponed due to corona cases at the fifth division club, the Munich team won none of the four test matches before, they lost 0-2 against Mönchengladbach. Because the national players had such a long vacation after the European Championship, Nagelsmann was only able to complete eight training sessions with all the players. In addition, defender Benjamin Pavard is out for several weeks with a foot injury. “It’s very, very annoying,” said the coach. “But nothing has gotten any better from howling.”
A new team has to grow together – but Nagelsmann has little time. “I’m happy and excited,” he said. “Our preparation took place under special conditions. It’s exciting for every player to see where he stands. “
At 34, he is the youngest Bayern coach in decades. Five-year contract, up to 25 million transfer – a leap of faith. Nagelsmann must be successful immediately, he makes that clear himself.
There is also a lot going on for the new club boss: Nagelsmann is the first coach that the champions have signed under Oliver Kahn’s leadership. The goalkeeper legend has been the CEO and successor to Karl-Heinz Rummenigges since July 1st. In an interview with WELT AM SONNTAG, Kahn stated the season’s goals: “The team can achieve something historic: become champions for the tenth time in a row. No club in the top European leagues has yet succeeded in doing this. We also want to win the DFB Cup. We also want to be at the forefront in the Champions League. ”The aim must remain to make it into the top four clubs in Europe. Nagelsmann’s mission is to cement a decade of dominance in the Bundesliga and to prove internationally that Bayern can continue to be expected.
“I rub my eyes in amazement”
In Jérôme Boateng (still without a club), David Alaba (to Real Madrid) and Javi Martínez (to Qatar SC), three veterans left the club. In Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig (around 42 million euros transfer fee), Omar Richards from FC Reading and substitute goalkeeper Sven Ulreich (both free of charge), the Munich team have signed three players. Corentin Tolisso could still change. The international competition buys big, Paris St. Germain signed superstar Lionel Messi. “I occasionally rub my eyes in amazement at how it all works,” commented Nagelsmann on the arms race in European football, which is rising without Bayern.
About the Bundesliga, he said, with a view to developments in European football: “There is a risk of being left behind.” He hoped that the European association Uefa “will certainly keep an eye on it”. The Uefa must have an interest in “that it remains a competition”.
FC Bayern is “the figurehead in Germany and is in a better situation than other clubs. It’s a tad more difficult for them. But it’s also complicated for FC Bayern, ”emphasized Nagelsmann. There are “50 + 1, investor issues and tax issues that make it extremely complicated.” Nagelsmann continues, Germany has “a very good TV contract, even if it is worse than in England. It is easier for these clubs to generate and then spend money in this way. “
Are the previous additions enough for the team? The coach: “As a club you can’t have 20 top players. As a coach, of course, you want as many top players as possible. But you have to find the balance. ”And Kahn emphasized:“ We have a strong squad that is able to achieve the ambitious goals of the season. ”Most recently, Bayern were interested in Leipzig’s midfielder Marcel Sabitzer. “I know Marcel very, very well. We sound out the market and work to the best of our knowledge and belief, ”says Nagelsmann.
To be successful in three competitions, as demanded by Kahn, you need a broad squad. Lothar Matthäus has doubts whether Bayern’s squad is wide enough. “FC Bayern has the best first team. The best squad from RB Leipzig, ”said the national record player“ Sport Bild ”. “If we move away from the first eleven, twelve, 13 players and then compare the players, Leipzig can react best in times of crisis – in the event of injuries, suspensions, overload – in my opinion.” Other experts also think: The chance for Leipzig, Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund to finally break through Bayern’s championship series is bigger than it has been for a long time. “Everyone wants us not to win the tenth championship title in a row,” says Nagelsmann.
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The Munich team lacked defensive stability in the preseason, they conceded 44 goals, twelve more than Leipzig, second in the table. In Mönchengladbach, Upamecano and Tanguy Nianzou, who was injured for a long time in the preseason, will probably form the central defense, Niklas Süle should move to the right defensive side due to the injury to Pavard. In the back left, Alphonso Davies can probably play again after his ligament ruptured. On the offensive flanks, Nagelsmann is expected to rely on Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané, Kingsley Coman has only been able to train for a few days after a bruised rib. “It’s about getting things done. He has a mega talent, ”said Nagelsmann about Sané. “It’s about showing this quality on the pitch. He can play a major role. “
The impressions of his first weeks as coach of the record champions are very good. The players are “all totally pleasant people, with whom you can work very well.” Nobody appears with an attitude like “I have won everything and no longer listen”.
Before the pandemic, it was said in Munich: By the start of the Oktoberfest at the latest, the FC Bayern team must be in their rhythm and in top form. And now? When does his team have to be at one hundred percent? Nagelsmann: “It wouldn’t be bad if it ran pretty smoothly on Friday at 8.30 p.m.”
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