“Crisis” summit instead of top game, fifth against 15th instead of first against second like last year: FC Bayern and Bayer 04 Leverkusen are under a lot of pressure in the Bundesliga. Above all, Julian Nagelsmann has to deliver. He gives the stars four messages.
After a few thoughtful days, Julian Nagelsmann looked forward with determination. Many video hours in which he analyzed “all games” again are behind the Munich coach. But after FC Bayern’s worst start to the league in twelve years, he had “no thoughts of resigning”. “The fact that the last two weeks have left me totally cold would be a lie. Everyone prefers to learn positive things about themselves than negative ones,” said the 35-year-old after much criticism. In the Munich league sadness after four games without a win, he wants to initiate the turnaround against Bayer Leverkusen this Friday (8.30 p.m. on DAZN and in the ntv.de live ticker).
“It was simply that I didn’t feel like not winning the games because I would like to be German champion again on Pay Day and would like to get further in the Champions League and in the DFB Cup than last year,” said Nagelsmann. “It’s not pay day yet, but we need points and wins.” The gap to leaders Union Berlin is five points.
Instead of first against second like a year ago, the fifth in the table around the returnees Manuel Neuer and Leon Goretzka after corona infections now welcomes the table 15. “It’s self-explanatory that we’d rather be top of the table today than tomorrow,” said Nagelsmann, who also sought advice from “many old companions” during the reflection, “that also opened up the horizon”. Nagelsmann must quickly find answers to the recent period of weakness and the meager opening yield of twelve points in seven games. Most recently, Louis van Gaal started worse in the 2010/11 season – at the end of the season he was no longer coach and Borussia Dortmund champion.
“All of us have clearly backed Julian Nagelsmann because we are absolutely convinced of him. He is an incredibly creative, innovative coach and we will celebrate many great successes with him in the future,” assured President Herbert Hainer. A win is now needed against Leverkusen, as they did on Tuesday in the Champions League against Viktoria Pilsen and four days later in the German Clásico against Borussia Dortmund. He gave his “boys four messages” for this, said Nagelsmann.
Nagelsmann, who was tied to the club until 2026 and committed to a record fee for a coach, was happy to register the bosses’ benevolent words. He feels personal responsibility, which he can also deal with – but: “I’m also aware that I’m not responsible for everything. In the last two weeks my name has been inflationary – and few other names.”
Bayer colleague Gerardo Seoane was also happy to have support from the top floor, although his record this season with just one win is devastating. “In this high-level sport, every matchday is extremely important,” said the Swiss, for whom a coup in Munich would be a great liberation. The hopes rest particularly on attacker Patrik Schick, who has recently improved with the Czech national team.
Nagelsmann expects “brave Leverkuseners” in a “top game”. 13 groundbreaking games in seven weeks will demand everything from the Bayern coach and his stars until the World Cup break. “Courage is the anagram of luck. Despite the result situation, I expect that we will continue to act courageously and make courageous decisions,” said Nagelsmann.
The international break was hardly any good for his stars to gain self-confidence in the fight against a “catastrophic trend”, as Thomas Müller put it. The DFB kickers around the strong Jamal Musiala returned to Säbener Straße without a win. Matthijs de Ligt was twice on the bench for the Netherlands. Benjamin Pavard and Dayot Upamecano suffered defeats while playing for France.
After all, Neuer and Goretzka are back after their corona infections – and the recently hapless Sadio Mané was able to at least celebrate a penalty goal. He will “quickly find his top form again,” said Nagelsmann. “I know we still have a lot up our sleeve, but we also had a lot up our sleeve that we’ve shown.”
