First 4:0, then 5:0 and now it’s up to your favorite opponent Borussia Dortmund. A few days ago there was speculation about the possible end of Julian Nagelsmann, now life is a triumph again. That’s good for FCB and DFB and a danger for BVB.
Thomas Müller and Joshua Kimmich were well entertained in their corona isolation by Sadio Mané and Leroy Sané’s goal show. Mané’s first Champions League goal for FC Bayern and the brace from Sané, who received a kiss from Leon Goretzka, increased Munich’s anticipation of the Bundesliga summit against Borussia Dortmund, where Müller and Kimmich also want to play again.
Müller saw the resurgent Mané and “two fantastic” Sané goals on home TV, which coach Julian Nagelsmann also appreciated. “Leroy can give every team in the world that extra icing on the cake,” said Nagelsmann, who is counting on further “world-class” actions by the ex-Schalke player against Dortmund. The preparation for the German Clásico continues for Nagelsmann “on Thursday at 7 a.m.” on the laptop with the analysis of BVB’s premier class performance against FC Sevilla.
From their own 5-0 win against Viktoria Pilsen, Nagelsmann and his star ensemble “first and foremost took confidence” for the league hit on Saturday, in addition to the soon-to-be-certain round of 16 ticket. Four attackers’ goals in the 4-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen were now followed by five – the goal fun is back. “Made strong boys,” tweeted Müller from the quarantine.
“We found the rhythm again,” said a relieved sports director Hasan Salihamidzic after two wins without conceding and the record of 31 group games without defeat. The offensive in particular has fought its way out impressively from the strong slump in form before the international break. “In the last two games, chances were better,” said the ex-professional. You may have been more concentrated and maybe “drank a little more target water”.
Dortmund will certainly be a completely different touchstone on Saturday (6.30 p.m.) than the sparring partners Pilsen and Leverkusen. “We’re all looking forward to it, it will definitely be exciting and difficult,” said the enthusiastic Mané.
Serge Gnabry, who was called up for Müller, and joker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also celebrated goals against the Czechs, who had no points in Europe, but the end of the goal sadness can be seen in particular with the upswing in Mané and Sané. After Mané missed simple balls in the 1-0 defeat in Augsburg two and a half weeks ago, he turned things up in the premier class with tricks, goals and dream templates. The increase in performance is easy to explain, said Nagelsmann. “He’s a person with feelings, mind, thoughts.” The criticism of his performance “didn’t leave the star striker, who was so strong at the beginning of the season, cold”.
Such a performance gives self-confidence, said the 30-year-old Senegalese. Which is especially true for the German national player Sané after his gala evening. “If Leroy presents himself like that, he’s one of the best players in Europe,” said Salihamidži?. “If he defends and plays to his strengths, he can become one of the best players ever.”
So he could also be an important factor for the national team at the World Cup, said Salihamidži?. “Then he is just without limits.” The appearances of Gnabry and Goretzka, who were called up for Müller and Kimmich, should also have pleased national coach Hansi Flick. “For Germany football, for the national team, it is important that both get into a good rhythm. Bayern Munich is what I have in mind,” said Nagelsmann. In this role, he tinkers with the starting eleven idea for the Dortmund game. This depends largely on Kimmich and Müller, who, according to Nagelsmann, “paw the hooves”. Tests are scheduled for Friday.
“In general, I don’t want to do without the two. But it has to be sensible and more than justifiable in terms of health: without hesitation,” said Nagelsmann. A few days of training breaks are not so bad for Müller and Kimmich, especially since both are “not susceptible” to muscular injuries. After their recent corona infections, Goretzka and captain Manuel Neuer returned to the training pitch after a few days and immediately returned to the competition. “You can’t compare that with each other. The courses are so different,” said Goretzka, who, as a former Schalke player, set the motto for the duel with the former Revier rival: “We’re really hot and will go full throttle.”
