FC Bayern has made an impressive impact on the transfer market – but star striker Robert Lewandowski is gone. The Supercup at RB Leipzig will show how much the competition has to tremble in front of the record champions this season. Coach Julian Nagelsmann tries to be calm.
The warnings from the experts left Julian Nagelsmann cold before the first “finale” of the season, the FC Bayern coach carries the burden of millions in transfers casually like a smart double-breasted suit. “I don’t know what everyone is warning me about. Somehow there are probably apocalyptic features. A wild storm is brewing that I haven’t seen yet,” said an amused coach. The pressure from outside is “relatively irrelevant”. He feels little pressure from outside, “because it’s not about life and death in football. You always exaggerate it so much, pressure and fear of being fired. If I’m fired at some point, I’ll be fired.”
The 35-year-old, he said, demands the most from himself – also before the start of the compulsory game in the Supercup on Saturday (8.30 p.m. / Sat.1 and Sky) at Nagelsmann’s former club, the cup winners RB Leipzig. Of course, the first trophy of the season is supposed to come from there. However, it seems almost more important to demonstrate to the competition right away that, despite the departure of Robert Lewandowski, nothing, absolutely nothing, can be gained in terms of the championship. “It’s an important game because it’s a title, but also as a statement,” said Nagelsmann. The Saxons are “a hungry young club that always tries to scratch the status of Bayern Munich”. Consequently, it is important to “make a small statement and show your strength”.
At the same time, it will be the first real test for the star additions to Sadio Mané and Matthijs de Ligt. The Dutchman’s commitment from Juventus Turin for 70 million euros was viewed very critically. The defender, as ex-national player Didi Hamann wrote in his Sky column, “still owes proof that he can defend like Bayern Munich’s. I would be a bit cautious and cautious.”
The French storm talent Mathys Tel (17 / Stades Rennes) is not yet eligible to play. The junior still needs some time to get used to it anyway. This also applies – to a different extent – to Matthijs de Ligt (22 / Juventus Turin), Ryan Gravenberch (20 / Ajax Amsterdam) and Noussair Mazraoui (24 / Ajax Amsterdam).
Bayern boss Oliver Kahn considers the number one competitive game after the top scorer era of Robert Lewandowski, who switched to FC Barcelona, ??to be a “super position determination” a week before the start of the Bundesliga. “Borussia Dortmund has strengthened very, very well and is certainly a big competitor in the Bundesliga. But so is Leipzig.” For RB defense chief Willi Orban, the Supercup would be “the icing on the cake for the cup victory,” as he said in “Kicker”. “The Supercup is a title and we cannot say that we have no more room in the trophy cabinet.”
Meanwhile, Nagelsmann was very impressed by Mané, who came from Liverpool FC, and after a strong week of training he promised him a starting XI. It is simply noticeable how Mané “builds the tension and how active he is in training, how much he coaches. You can see that he knows that he is needed when it becomes important. I am sure that he will make a very good game.” Possibly even in the Lewandowski position in the center of the storm, where something could even happen.
According to Nagelsmann, he continues to keep his eyes open for a real number nine, even if Bayern are planning different models. Then, of course, there is the topic of Konrad Laimer, which takes up a lot of space when it comes to the Supercup. Bayern is negotiating with Leipzig about a change in the 24-year-old midfielder and is said to be offering 23 million euros plus bonuses. Nagelsmann did not have any noteworthy updates ready.
When asked about the recent criticism from RB managing director Oliver Mintzlaff, who recently suggested that “Bayern find other ideas and don’t always get our players,” Nagelsmann skillfully dismissed. Even after his own departure and the transfers of Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer, he had “a very good relationship with Olli,” says Nagelsmann: “We talk on the phone very often. Everything is fine.”
