For Julian Nagelsmann, the 21st match day of the Bundesliga ended in disaster. His freak out against referee Tobias Welz caused severe criticism. Several ex-professionals reprimand the FC Bayern coach – Lothar Matthäus even predicts penalties from the club and the DFB.
This 21st match day of the Bundesliga should keep Julian Nagelsmann busy for a long time. His freak out after Bayern Munich’s 3-2 defeat at Borussia Mönchengladbach was too violent. The criticism of his behavior towards the referee team around Tobias Welz after the controversial red card against Dayot Upamecano in the eighth minute of the game is immense.
After the final whistle, Nagelsmann stormed into the referee’s cabin, before and afterward he audibly cursed the referees. When asked in the interview by ZDF and Sport1 that he should have said “softened pack”, Nagelsmann said: “Yes, but I don’t always mean the referees.”
For his choice of words, he received a violent rebuke from ex-professional Dietmar Hamann: “In the heat of the moment things slip out. Only, of course, he knows that he will end up on the cover, even if he says, please don’t put it on the gold scales . But he is the coach of Bayern Munich,” he said and: “If he doesn’t want his words to be put on the gold scales, then he has to go to the third division, fourth division, so nobody cares what he says. This responsibility has to he’s aware of that. He’s already looked repentant, so he’s sorry.
Record national player Lothar Matthäus has also reprimanded the Bayern coach – and expects further consequences. “The choice of words is far off the mark. It will certainly have repercussions for the DFB sports court to use such expressions,” said the former Munich professional on Sky. The “Bild” newspaper also reports that Nagelsmann is threatened with an investigation by the DFB control committee. However, it can be assumed that he will get away with a fine and not receive a game penalty – also because he has already apologized for his choice of words. “Unfortunately I went too far there,” tweeted the 35-year-old.
Matthäus emphasized: “That he’s disappointed – yes! That he’s under pressure – yes! But I still expect not only from a Bayern Munich coach, but in general from those responsible who are on the line that they choose the right words meet, or that they have it under control.” According to the record national player, the apology is not enough. “Now just a sponge over it – that doesn’t settle the matter,” said the 61-year-old: “It’s a topic that will fill the headlines for the next few days. That’s why I believe that not only the DFB, but also FC Bayern calls his employees to report.”
However, sports director Hasan Salihamidzic reacted cautiously immediately after the game. According to his own statements, he had no concrete knowledge of “what the coach said”. However, it is understandable that Nagelsmann reacted emotionally to the decision, said Salihamidzic: “I think you have to concede that to him now.”
Coach colleague Daniel Farke also showed understanding: “I didn’t even notice his freak out myself, so I can’t comment on that,” said the Gladbach coach at the press conference after the game. “But I understand the emotions of fellow coaches. I felt the same way in the last game (Hertha BSC, editor’s note). That’s why I can understand 100 percent that you’re emotional.”
Upamecano was sent off after a duel with his opponent Alassane Pléa. The Gladbacher was faster than Upamecano, after Upamecano made contact with his compatriot’s shoulder just before the penalty area, he fell. Welz decided on the emergency brake and gave red. A controversial decision – too hard for referee expert Alex Feuerherdt from “Collinas Erben”: “The impulse against Pléa’s shoulder is small, it is very doubtful that Pléa gets out of step. To evaluate this contact as a push or a hold is very hard, too hard, even if Pléa is moving at some pace. The fact that he stumbles and falls with a delay is also questionable given his robustness. Playing on would be the best decision.”
The allegedly fouled saw it differently at Sport1: “He touched my shoulder lightly while I was running. That made me fall. Why should I let myself fall? Otherwise I would have been free in front of the goal with the ball.” Although he could understand the excitement at Bayern. Pléa also emphasized: “Dayot was the last man.”