FC Bayern does not play outstanding football at FC Schalke 04, but still wins with great ease. The linchpin of the Munich game is youngster Jamal Musiala. Legend Lothar Matthäus sings a hymn to it.
Jamal Musiala scored a goal on Saturday night. But that goal didn’t count. Actually, you don’t have to talk about this scene any further. But one did it anyway – and after this scene, which was offside, he even wanted to leave the stadium in Gelsenkirchen. Lothar Matthäus, a recognized top expert in German football, fell in love with the 19-year-old FC Bayern midfielder, who had led his team to a 2-0 win over FC Schalke 04, because of the way he received, carried and shot the ball.
Now that the Bundesliga is heading into the contemplative Christmas season, while a World Cup is still being played in Qatar, things are sorted out again, as has been the tradition for a decade: the record champions are after a complicated first round (in the first half of the season there are January two games left) back in first place – and not only that. The record champions have again hurried ahead of the competition. There are six points on RB Leipzig, the first opponent after the World Cup break, and on Sunday possibly four on SC Freiburg or Union Berlin, both playing against each other. But it’s hard to believe that these clubs have the consistency to annoy the champions of all classes late into spring. And Borussia Dortmund? The eternal rival broke all his bones as a clattering giant at the “pony riding” in Mönchengladbach on Friday evening.
It’s strange how different the emotional state in the pot is. The Dortmund are sixth and battered. Schalke are last and optimistic. Likewise, by the way, like the penultimate, VfL Bochum. Both have to do with Thomas Reis. After the departure of “anne Castroper”, the team straightened itself up and blossomed from a zero-point team into a more serious candidate for relegation. And Schalke, thanks to Reis, suddenly have passion and a game idea. This courageous approach could also be seen against FC Bayern, only the quality is not (yet) enough for more than mere resistance. In the long break, numerous injured players are coming back and possibly fresh forces. A mood cocktail that tastes good. The north curve, which the team celebrated emotionally.
Well deserved. Despite all the prophecies, Schalke were not presented and scored well. A 0:2, you can just accept that. The fans in the stands, the players on the pitch. It’s FC Bayern, who were guests, who sent seven German internationals to the World Cup. Schalke does not send a representative to the DFB team. The notable of the Munich nominees is Jamal Musiala. He writes a story with the record champions that seems to have never been told. Whenever a superlative seems to have been found for him, a new one has to be devised, this young man is so good.
And so humble. He always wants to improve. Musiala always asks for extra training and extra videos. Nagelsmann says he’s not someone “who just rides the wave of success and doesn’t do anything about it.” The midfielder has a big, clearly formulated goal. He has said that he wants to be the best player in the world. “He has a way to go,” emphasizes his coach, “and little time to lose.” Nagelsmann does not have to earth his greatest jewel. “I never feel like I have to bring him down or slow him down in any way. He knows he has a responsibility with us and the national team – he wanted that too.”
Lothar Matthäus, actually not a man for the great hymns, also sings one of these. “This man must never leave FC Bayern. What he showed again today is fun and puts a smile on my face,” he said after the gala in Gelsenkirchen. He is indispensable, not for sale. And if there is a departure at all, then not under a “quarter of a billion euros”. That would actually be the most expensive transfer of all time. For Matthäus, the flexible midfielder is a Messi(as) for FC Bayern. He is the heart and brain of the next few years, the next decade. As FC Barcelona once developed an omnivorous title machine around Lionel Messi, the record champions should now do the same with Musiala, the DFB legend recommends. “It’s magic, it’s Messi-like,” he enthused. Musiala initiated Serge Gnabry’s first goal with a hoe, and with the second goal he elegantly played the resurrected nine Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting free.
Musiala had secured a prominent place in the annals of the club with the kick-off in the Schalke Arena. At 19 years and 259 days, he was the youngest player since the Bundesliga was founded to reach the mark of 100 competitive games for FC Bayern. It is statistical proof of his appreciation, but not an expression of how great his influence on the game of coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team is now. In 22 competitive games he has had 22 goals, twelve goals and ten assists. Serge Gnabry follows in second place, who seems to be in the best shape again in time for the World Cup. Behind that is Sadio Mané, the celebrated world-class shopper of the summer. The Senegalese has already scored eleven times in 23 games, but “only” provided four assists. Musiala, he is the key player.
Also for Germany? It’s hard to imagine that he wouldn’t play a key role at the World Cup. He is strongest on the “ten”, as a playmaker. However, Thomas Müller prefers to play this role, interpreting it in a completely different way. It is most valuable as a free radical in the hanging space behind the apex. National coach Hansi Flick has a luxury problem (unlike in defence, for example) – and will have to make a hardship decision. He may push the still ailing Müller to the top as a compromise. Müller did that more often, but it wasn’t his best games. In any case, Kai Havertz is also considered a more likely solution. Or maybe even Niclas Füllkrug or Youssoufa Moukoko as skilled workers.
But there is no way around Musiala. Otherwise there is a risk of a national debate, which the national coach was surprisingly spared when Mats Hummels was not appointed. At least for now. “Jamal played an outstanding first half of the season and will hopefully play the World Cup and the second half even better,” said Nagelsmann about the player, who is already in his third full season (!) with the pros. “He listens well, wants to develop defensively too, he has developed extremely well there. He has extremely lively feet, like snake legs. The rebounds always come in front of his feet.” And what he does then is amazing. Like his goal, which didn’t count. After a fine chip pass, he processed the ball superbly, putting his body in against two men and completing it perfectly from close range. “His dribbling, his assists, this lightness, I know why I’m a Musiala fan,” the record international sang about the native of Stuttgart. Following Louis van Gaal’s legend “Thomas Müller always plays”, Matthäus now demanded: “Musiala always plays. That’s entertainment, that’s Hollywood.”
Not the Hollywood that they otherwise know in Munich and fear so much. Which they had encountered again in the first half of the season. Suddenly, trainer Nagelsmann’s new girlfriend was even named as a topic – and a problem because she used to be a Bayern reporter for “Bild”. Nagelsmann himself was also the focus of discussions. The bosses “dwarfed” him as a talent, which really annoyed him. He felt he had long since outgrown this stage. The Munich team had to maneuver through crises in results and “nine” discussions. problems that are now resolved. And don’t appear again. Nagelsmann goes into the break “with the hope that things will continue like this after Christmas in the new year. That’s my only thought. It has to continue like this, then everything is possible this season.” Also or mainly thanks to Musiala. Matthäus, who did that By the way, I wanted to leave the stadium after the goal that didn’t count.
