Bayern won three times with the same eleven. Now it’s rotating, also because of injuries like Musiala. Nagelsmann plans to add de Ligt at the back with 67 million euros and Sané and Coman at the front.
Matthijs de Ligt did not come to Munich for a place on the bench. But the new defense chief, triggered for 67 million euros at Juventus Turin, had to be patient at the start of the season at FC Bayern, as did Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui.
National soccer player Leroy Sané has also been on the bench so far and has only been able to show himself as a part-time employee.
Bayern coach rebuilds his starting eleven
But when he returned to Bochum on Sunday (5:30 p.m./DAZN), where the Bundesliga series champions only suffered a 4-2 defeat against a brilliantly playing VfL half a year ago, Julian Nagelsmann was “still stuck in his head” the Bayern coach rebuilds for the first time. Partly voluntarily, but also because of injuries, for example in the case of the widely celebrated shooting star Jamal Musiala.
The 19-year-old has a strain in the adductor area. “If it were the Champions League final, he would certainly be able to play because after that he would be free,” said Nagelsmann. Now it says: No risk!
After Nagelsmannn had fielded the same starting eleven in all three competitive games of the young season, de Ligt, Sané and Kingsley Coman should receive the coveted starting mandate after serving a red suspension. Nagelsmann certified the Frenchman Coman’s top training performance and boasted: “He has a monster quality.”
After the penultimate training session, the coach still put a tiny question mark behind the 23-year-old de Ligt. The Dutchman tore a ligament in his hand. “We’re trying to get a track at Matthijs,” said Nagelsmann. If a safe defensive deployment is possible and de Ligt is also free of pain, he should play in the Bochum stadium.
Nagelsmann: “It won’t be more than three changes”
“I would have liked to have let him play, I can reveal that much,” said Nagelsmann, but at the same time added: “We’ll have to wait and see if they do him a favor by throwing him in there.”
A change in the center of defense is also advisable because Dayot Upamecano took a hit to the top of his fibula and could use a break. There are two changes on the offensive: In addition to Musiala, Serge Gnabry should also avoid any risk shortly before the start of the English weeks. The national striker has a bony tear on his wrist, wears a cast and is also struggling with adductor problems.
“It won’t be more than three changes,” announced Nagelsmann. The minor injuries to Musiala, Gnabry and Upamecano are good enough for him to give other stars match practice. “We’re only on the third day of the Bundesliga match,” Nagelsmann remarked: “But I know that everything will very quickly be reduced to monetary terms, how expensive the new ones were, how many millions are sitting in the bank.”
Salihamidzic: “Will need all the players”
Those responsible also see the problem of keeping all professionals happy during games on a weekly basis – and appease. “We knew before the season what to expect with the stress, with the interruption caused by the World Cup,” explained CEO Oliver Kahn, who therefore emphasized: “We will need all the players in the squad this season, we will need everyone in top condition because we have a lot of games.”
Sports director Hasan Salihamidzic sees the trainer and himself challenged. “Obviously that’s the job we all have, how to keep all the players happy. We’ll need everyone,” he said. “It’s not easy now that there’s no English week when you’re sitting outside.” Numerous supplementary players such as defensive talent Tanguy Nianzou, Marc Roca and perhaps attacker Joshua Zirkzee were or will be sold in the summer.
Of course, the first rotation in Bochum should not lead to the hitherto very harmonious Bayern ensemble deviating from the road to success. “We don’t want to lose there a second time,” said Nagelsmann. In the amazing 2:4 last February, Bayern conceded four goals within 30 minutes in the first half.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
