Coach Julian Nagelsmann was not at all happy with Bayern’s 3-0 win over relegation contenders VfL Bochum. His criticism shows: The nervousness before the Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain is increasing.
Julian Nagelsmann was beside himself. The FC Bayern coach once again complained to the fourth official about a decision made by referee Matthias Jöllenbeck. As a result, Jöllenbeck showed the upset coach a yellow card. Nagelsmann had complained too often and too loudly. Now the measure was full.
It all happened just before the half-time whistle in the Allianz Arena, Bayern led 1-0 against VfL Bochum despite a weak first half. However, the tour was thanks to a gift from the guests. Their full-back Saidy Janko had played a back pass that was too short for goalkeeper Manuel Riemann, which Thomas Müller used to score an undeserved opening goal.
Nagelsmann needs success in the Champions League
What calmed Nagelsmann again over the course of the game: His team improved in the second half, scored two more goals through Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry (penalty, caused by a certain Janko) and deservedly won 3-0 against an opponent who didn’t comes close to the level of Bayern (first leg 7-0). Nagelsmann stayed on the bench until the end and didn’t see a second yellow card or worse.
Nevertheless, the coach was not satisfied with the performance of his team. In the first 45 minutes in particular, Bayern showed again that they lacked what Nagelsmann called the “flow” of last year, when they won ten games in a row with wonderful ease.
Since the restart after the winter break, the engine has been stuttering badly and that worries Nagelsmann. Because there are big tasks ahead. In Munich, they are counting down the days until the game against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16. It will be the most important game of the season so far. Bayern failed twice in a row in the premier class in the quarter-finals, another early exit could mean the end of Nagelsmann’s Bayern commitment. If not immediately then by the end of the season.
Great sobriety
From that point of view it is more than understandable when the coach is under pressure. After the game, Nagelsmann did what he has to do as the main person responsible for the team. He warned, telling the truth: “If we play like this on Tuesday it won’t be enough to go through,” he said. And further: “When we play really full throttle, it’s football, it’s fun when I move properly and bring a little enthusiasm to the field,” he described a possible way out of the low form to get back to earth come: “In the end it’s a bit too little life, we don’t have a great flow now. We’re a point up in the Bundesliga and no more.”
So there seems to be great sobriety about the form of their own team in the coach. The next few days before the game against the Qatar sovereign wealth fund branch will be crucial for him. Luckily for Nagelsmann, the team from the French capital is not in shape. In the French Cup they were knocked out by Olympique Marseille, in the league PSG botched the general rehearsal for the Champions League with a 1-2 defeat by AS Monaco.
In addition, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi are said to be injured or battered. Their use is questionable, it is said. It would be an advantage for Bayern if only Neymar were used out of the three superstars. But Nagelsmann does not want to rely on that. He considers the alleged injuries to be a bluff on the part of the opponent. What else can he do? He must expect the worst.
With material from DPA
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
