FC Bayern is unbeaten in the Bundesliga, but three draws in a row tear the mood down. Coach Julian Nagelsmann has to put up with criticism. There should be rumblings in the team, so the return of Robert Lewandowski is not at all convenient.
Sadio Mané issued an urgent warning. His addressee: Thomas Müller, the once congenial partner of Robert Lewandowski. Müller, Mané asked and warned, please do not put a ball on the striker this Tuesday evening. A little joke, a big truth. Because probably no other footballer has ever made more chances and goals possible for the Polish star player than Müller. No one knows exactly how many of the 344 goals for FC Bayern the German international was directly or indirectly involved in, but there were so many that some media proclaimed the combination the “best in the world”.
This successful symbiosis was dissolved this summer. Robert Lewandowski rumbled to Spain, he moved to FC Barcelona. And he found happiness there. He does what he does best: score goals. In Munich, she had great hopes that she could quickly put the anger and power issue of the past few months on the record – but this wish was not granted. Despite the commitment of Sadio Mané, despite furious victories against Eintracht Frankfurt (6:1) and VfL Bochum (7:0) in the Bundesliga. The shadow of the 34-year-old never disappeared from Munich – and is now returning in person.
In the second preliminary round match of the Champions League, FC Barcelona will play with Lewandowski in the evening (9 p.m./Amazon Prime Video and in the live ticker on ntv.de) in the Munich Arena. What awaits him? whistles? boos? abuse? Or gratitude for eight successful years with records and triumphs? Lewandowski will not deal with these things. He’s as ripped off as a professional as he is as a striker. He has integrated himself into the game of the Catalan giants without any difficulty. His trainer Xavi, the icon of the legendary Tiki-Taka era, can hardly believe his luck with the 34-year-old. “Robert gives us a lot of options up front in attack,” says the 42-year-old. “His understanding of the game is fantastic. He’s a leader on the pitch.”
There are things that they also told each other about Mané in Munich. The new signing from Liverpool FC, although a completely different type, should quickly seal the offensive leak. The fact that the Senegalese has all the qualities is undisputed, as is the fact that his start was furious. But the euphoria has now subsided. In the past few games, the Mané engine stuttered. “I think he’s missing a can opener,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann before seeing Lewandowski again. It comes at the wrong time. Or maybe not? Depending on the course of the duel, the Munich team will no longer be able to get rid of the unpleasant discussion as to whether everything is better with “Lewa” (at least for the time being), or they will make an impressive statement.
That would be particularly important for Coach Nagelsmann. As early as mid-September he felt the immense pressure on him to win the title. Sports director Hasan Salihamidži? finally gave him a squad that actually leaves nothing to be desired. So not those after a classic “nine”. In Nagelsmann’s perfect world, it doesn’t need it. He has other ideas. Are they the ones that lead to the goal? After three draws in the Bundesliga, he faces a lot of headwind. The media and experts make his wild rotations a topic – and the reason that the results and performance are no longer correct.
The coach has not yet found a clear line. It is also the first time that he has to handle such a large star ensemble. “Of course Julian is finding his style. It’s also a learning process and not that easy at Bayern. He’s never had a squad like that before,” Salihamidži? said in a one-two at Sport1 last Sunday. The coach himself is trying to remain calm: “You’ve read again that one or the other is dissatisfied with their position. I don’t really see that,” emphasized the 35-year-old. “We have 18, 19, 20 balanced players, so you have to be allowed to rotate.” According to the Bayern coach, everyone demands “a strong squad, we have that, and then there are moments when you play less”.
But he still has the full backing of the sports director. “I said to the coach: It’s more important to me that we draw once more than that we have too many unhappy players,” confessed Hasan Salihamidži?. But how long can such a statement be maintained at FC Bayern? Especially since Salihamidži? once said a few weeks ago that Nagelsmann and his team were responsible for “how to make everyone happy”. It is important to have “a good hand and instinct”. Especially now, especially before this explosive reunion.
And the Catalans are not under the illusion of meeting an insecure and ill-tempered Bayern team. Xavi warns his players against the strong Munich collective. “They are all dangerous.” Thomas Müller, Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala are “players who can make the difference”. Just as natural as Mané. Nagelsmann is trying to instill the self-confidence of the first few weeks in Munich. “Sadio is critical, sometimes maybe too critical. He thinks a tad too much.” The coach advises Mané to be more self-confident on the pitch and to trust in his abilities as a leader: “He’s welcome to appear a bit positively arrogant. I’ve already praised his selfless nature, too much of it isn’t good either.”
There is one man who is good as a role model. His name: Robert Lewandowski.
