Bundesliga: “Stunned and devastated”: mood of crisis at Bayern

Julian Nagelsmann sat grimly in the press room of the Augsburg Arena and commented on FC Bayern’s first defeat of the season in the style of a telegram.

After the 0:1 (0:0) against a poisonous, disgusting and grandiosely fighting FC Augsburg, the German soccer record champion and his coach are in a hangover mood before the planned Oktoberfest visit by professionals and bosses.

The last four Bayern games in the Bundesliga without a win were more than 20 years ago. This is a trend that means “nothing good”, said the 35-year-old Nagelsmann, who now has to overcome a crisis. “Three points from four games – I don’t know if I like the measure,” said sports director Hasan Salihamidzic before the Oktoberfest visit on Sunday. Nagelsmann once again complained about the lack of efficiency. His players were “simply very laissez-faire”.

The defeat will have an impact

In the upcoming international break, he now wants to think a lot: “I think about everything. About me. About the situation. About everything.” The defeat will have a longer lasting effect in Munich.

The courageous and hard-fighting Augsburgers crowned their splendid performance with the winning goal from U21 European champion Mergim Berisha in the 59th minute after a free kick from their own half, during which Bayern slept collectively instead of defending vigorously. In stoppage time, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer even stormed with corner kicks. A header from the captain almost made it 1-1, but outstanding FCA keeper Rafal Gikiewicz made a brilliant save. “He asked me why I saved it,” Gikiewicz reported after a brief exchange of words with Neuer after the final whistle.

30,660 spectators in the Augsburg Arena celebrated their team’s first home win of the season, repeating the surprise success of the previous year. Back then, FCA won 2-1 with Markus Weinzierl as coach. Now Enrico Maassen triumphed in his first game as Bundesliga coach against the great FC Bayern. “Of course we can understand that luck was also part of it,” said Maassen, who set up his team with a bold approach. “It’s something very special to score against Bayern,” said new signing Berisha after scoring his first Bundesliga goal.

Problems with physical gait

Four days after the 2-0 win against FC Barcelona, ​​Bayern, who had made three changes by Nagelsmann, found it extremely difficult to switch from delicate Champions League football to tough league struggles. The Augsburgers went to work robustly, constantly forcing the Munich team into duels with the greatest willingness to run.

They have “brutal problems against teams that play against us physically, that kind of knock our socks off,” Salihamidzic remarked after the game and warned: “The boys have to be more greedy.” Thomas Müller said: “In terms of results, we are absolutely in a crisis.” Defender Maximilan Bauer could have headed Augsburg ahead of Neuer before the break (39′).

At Bayern, Leroy Sané was usually the driving force. They had more possession, ran and had a number of chances to score. They were awarded or a booty of the multiply brilliant Gikiewicz. The Pole reacted excellently against star striker Sadio Mané, who failed again, and then seemed insurmountable. “We suffered and had an outstanding goalkeeper,” said Maassen. “When I look at the statistics, we have to win,” groaned Nagelsmann in the press conference when looking at the sheet: 21: 9 shots on goal were there – for Bayern. But at the top it was 1-0 – for Augsburg.