Even before the lots had decided that there would be a clash between the heavyweights in the Champions League group stage between FC Bayern and Robert Lewandowski’s new employer Barcelona, the two clubs had dueled in the summer.
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“I basically recommend: Schuster, stick to your last. Julian shouldn’t make any political statements, that’s the job of Oliver Kahn and Herbert Hainer,” said Rummenigge in an interview with the Spanish “as”. Rummenigge continued: “He also got a broadside back from Spain. I think it’s always better to limit things to your own area of competence.”
Alleged criticism from the team
This should, at least as the statements of the former CEO suggest, primarily consist in training a team, finding a suitable line-up and giving the team a tactical route to take.
Nagelsmann praises Barça’s development: “A new team”
In addition, some of the team was also annoyed by Nagelsmann’s lack of self-criticism followingwards. Rather, he had complained regarding too much control, poor chance conversion and not enough “power”. At the press conference before the home game once morest Barcelona, he once more went into the missing goals, which were not only missing once morest VfB.
“If we use three of the one-on-one situations once morest Gladbach (1-1), we’ll probably win 4-1 or 5-1, or if Serge makes it 3-1 once morest Stuttgart, then we’re back on track. It’s seconds that make the difference in coverage, ratings and reviews.” However, there was neither a 4:1 or 5:1 once morest Gladbach nor a 3:1 once morest Stuttgart. That is the reality, the media tenor fell accordingly.
Nagelsmann makes himself vulnerable with rotation
However, one topic in particular has been discussed in Munich since Saturday, a topic that makes Nagelsmann particularly vulnerable: rotation. The 35-year-old made six changes compared to the duel with Inter Milan last Wednesday (2-0). The previous long-running favorites Sadio Mané, Lucas Hernández, Benjamin Pavard and Leroy Sané, among others, first had to sit on the bench, but reservists such as Noussair Mazraoui or Mathys Tel were allowed to prove themselves.
Noussair Mazraoui (left) once morest VfB
Fotocredit: Getty Images
There were actually only nuances between victory and draw, due to an unfortunate defensive action by Matthijs de Ligt, the guests were awarded a penalty in injury time, which cost the record champions two points. It is true that in the event of a labor victory, no rotation debate would have arisen. “Then we would be back on track and everyone would have said that we finished it confidently,” said Nagelsmann.
Salihamidzic strengthens the coach’s back
Salihamidzic added: “The coach also has to please a lot of players. I’d rather we play a draw than have dissatisfied players. That’s why I don’t see things so badly.” A quite astonishing assessment. “Sport1” expert Stefan Effenberg, on the other hand, was hard on Nagelsmann in his column.
“As a player, I would have a problem with the coach rotating like that – that’s too much for me,” wrote the ex-professional. “Personally, I would have done it differently than Nagelsmann, and I wouldn’t have started in that style with six new people, because in the end the result always takes precedence over everything.” Effenberg added: “I have to honestly say: I was rested a few times during my active time and I was really pissed off. As an active player you ask yourself: Why? What did I do wrong?”
One of Nagelsmann’s core competencies (freely adapted from Rummenigge) is to adequately moderate precisely such situations. “If you rotate and you win, everyone is happy. It rotates as it suits you. If you win, then the decision before that doesn’t matter. I had the feeling that all players were on the same level,” said Nagelsmann.
Nagelsmann: “I don’t feel like not winning”
For all the supposed coolness leading up to the Barcelona encounter, he admitted he’s been in a better mood. “I prefer to win. I’m in contact with a lot of people, a lot of people have a say in such a big club. Everyone gives advice. In general, I’m in a better mood when I win. I’m not tense, I just don’t feel like it, not to win.”
Before he said goodbye, he gave the journalists present: “You should see me on the paddle (paddle tennis, editor’s note) if I don’t win. That’s not nice for the opponent either.” One can only hope for the upcoming paddle tennis opponents that there will be a win once morest Lewandowski and Co. From Nagelsmann’s point of view, a threesome would of course be even more desirable. The attack surface would – for now – shrink.
This is how Nagelsmann reacts to the shocker once morest Stuttgart
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