Ex-coach: “No broken leg for Julian”
Will Nagelsmann follow Conte?
Reinhard Franke
After Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern exit, his former youth coach Ernst Tanner at SPORT1 criticizes FC Bayern’s actions and gives his assessment of where he sees the future of the 35-year-old.
Julian Nagelsmann is history again after around 20 months as coach of FC Bayern. From now on, Thomas Tuchel has the sporting say in the record champions. On Tuesday, the 49-year-old will be on the training ground with his new team for the first time.
Ernst Tanner knows Nagelsmann from his time as a B youth at 1860 Munich. Tanner was Nagelsmann’s youth coach for the lions. “We’ve known and trusted each other for 20 years,” says Tanner.
The 56-year-old, who worked in Hoffenheim between 2003 and 2011 as head of the youth department, sporting director and managing director, has been sports director at MLS club Philadelphia Union since 2018. In the SPORTS1interview he talks about the Bavaria earthquake and Nagelsmann.
SPORT1: Mr. Tanner, how did you perceive Julian Nagelsmann’s surprising dismissal?
Ernst Tanner: I can now read between the lines in our shop a bit and when I hear that Julian has recently become a top dog alongside the usual ones with species-protected animals (moles, note d. R) was struggling, alarm bells were ringing for me. Seen in this way, the end didn’t come as a great surprise to me.
Nagelsmann-Aus? “Looks like quite a panic action”
SPORT1: The manner of the separation was also criticized. Nagelsmann had to find out from the media.
Tanner: Not pretty and even less professional, but unfortunately recurring in the professional business, I would say.
SPORT1: What do you accuse the Bayern bosses of? President Herbert Hainer placed himself in front of Nagelsmann last week.
Tanner: I can’t fault the Bayern bosses because they make their decisions to the best of their knowledge and belief and in the interests of their club. However, this case shows that communication at management level is obviously not the best either. At least from the outside, Julian’s release looks like quite a panic action.
Brazzo plain text in a double pass: the background to Nagelsmann-Aus
SPORT1: Hainer explained that Nagelsmann was a “long-term project” for FC Bayern. He later said that the narrow defeat in Leverkusen changed everything. Do you think so?
Tanner: This is of course a glaring contradiction. Long-term projects are not ended by individual results, but when developments and trends become apparent that pose an existential threat to the club. The weekend’s interviews with the national players also showed that the relationship with many and above all important players is apparently intact. You can now see whether the glass is half full or half empty as you wish.
Tanner: Termination for Nagelsmann not a broken leg
SPORT1: There was too much variation in performance for the bosses…
Tanner: But Bayern are still represented with appropriate chances in all competitions this season, but had to replace important players like Lewandowski and Süle last summer. Then, in the winter, Neuer had an accident. Two thirds of the team also had a World Cup to play. These are the bare facts and it was also clear that a season against this background would not go completely smoothly.
SPORT1: It is the first dismissal in Nagelsmann’s young coaching career. Will that give him a crack now?
Tanner: The first time is always special, especially when it happens this way. Julian is a developer, for which he needs some time and, above all, the appropriate backing. Without a doubt, that was no longer available recently and the disappointment was therefore all the greater for him. But he’s confident and has enough personality to digest it. As much as it hurts, a dismissal, especially against the background described, is not a broken leg for him and he will learn his lessons from it.
SPORT1: Where do you see Nagelsmann’s future?
Tanner: The coach market is very tight, especially in the top segment, and German coaches are incredibly important abroad. So Julian doesn’t need to worry about his next job. Despite his young age, he has experienced everything in Germany and I don’t know to what extent that still appeals to him.
“England the next logical step”
SPORT1: Real Madrid have already got in touch with Nagelsmann. Would that be the next logical step?
Tanner: Real will definitely be an option again, but in terms of language and his interests, I see England as the next and logical step. Whether that has to be Tottenham in all haste, I dare to doubt.
SPORT1: What would you advise Nagelsmann?
Tanner: We have known and trusted each other for 20 years. I would advise him to take a break first, to reflect and not jump too quickly into the next shark tank. He also needs the time to regenerate and to prepare well for the next station.
Ernst Tanner in February 2012 when he was still under contract with 1899 Hoffenheim
SPORT1: Did FC Bayern end up being a year or two too early for Julian?
Tanner: That is hypothetical, especially since Bayern also thought something when they signed him for a large fee. Julian has more than a decade of coaching experience and, before joining Bayern, worked at the top level in the Bundesliga for five years. Even internationally he had good success in the Champions League. Being young does not automatically mean being inexperienced. (NEWS: All current information about the Bundesliga)