Bayern Munich before duel with Barcelona: Nagelsmann is under surveillance

Munich – Hasan Salihamidzic has become more confident in the past few weeks.

The chants of praise for his successful transfer policy this summer have clearly made the Bosnian, who has been somewhat wedded in rhetoric for so long, more relaxed, and now more confident in public.

But even the sporting director of Bayern Munich could not explain the bad mood after the disappointing 2: 2 match against Stuttgart, neither immediately after the match nor on Sunday in the “Sport1 double pass”.

Bayern Munich: The weakest start to the Bundesliga since 2010

Of course, Salihamidzic was also not satisfied (“I’m always angry when we don’t win”), but he tried despite the weakest start to the Bundesliga season since 2010 and the Champions League duel against Barcelona. (Tuesdays from 9 pm on the live tape) to look ahead.

But after a third straight league tie, the turmoil at Säbener Straße is more than one would like.

And above all, criticism of Julian Nagelsmann has become noticeably higher, and contrary to some statements of the coach, not only in the media. His rotation and changes in the game and it is not for the first time that his relationship with the team is criticized.

Although Salihamidzic was not entirely wrong, the skeptics would not have said, at least in the case of a player change, if the supposed B-Elf had defeated Stuttgart.

The sporting director said: “Maybe it was too much, but if we win, no one will talk about it. Barcelona rested the players too, but they won 4-0.” I want to be here and not paint it black. We are still in the identification phase with this team. The coach must now have a lot of instinct when we rotate. And the coach asks to have a lot of discussions to find the right mix.”

Salihamidzic makes people sit up and notice: “I prefer to draw again …”

An obvious work order for Nagelsmann on the one hand. On the other hand, Salihamidzic assumed a large part of the responsibility with a wonderful statement: “I told the coach: The most important thing for me is that we prefer to play again than we have a lot of unsatisfied players.”

A statement that could lead to questions from his neighbor and boss Oliver Kahn, who was visibly amused in the stands and who was said to have had a verbal duel with referee Christian Dingert in the catacombs after the match. Because the fact that the record champions actually accept losing points in order to please reservists wouldn’t fit with Mia San Mia’s self-image.

Rudely looked at, there were already good reasons to give players like Serge Gnabry, Nassir Mazraoui, record scorer Matisse Tal or long-time injured Leon Goretzka, train games and give top performers like Leroy Sane or Sadio Mane a creative break.

Bayern Munich: Nagelsmann’s questionable maneuvers for change

What infuriated observers much more is that Nagelsmann is suspect for the unfortunate exchange maneuvers, and not for the first time. Many saw the replacement of right-back Josip Stanisic and striker Eric Maxim Chobo-Moting, both of whom are only number three in their positions, as a completely wrong sign.

Instead of using defenders Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard, who had both been off the bench for 90 minutes, to stabilize the Bayern defense, which looked increasingly confused as playing time increased, the coach also brought in Ryan Gravenberch, Mane and Sane, who were only partly adept at moving. Back, while the powerful Jamal Musiala, among others, had to leave the field.

This is the maturity of the critics mills, who have already received inside information about the alleged bad mood in the dressing room in the mixed second half of the previous season. At the time it was said, among other things, that Nagelsmann spins quite a bit (!), trains extremely intricately and speaks only with his arm outstretched by Joshua Kimmich.

Before Lewandowski’s reunion: Preparing the climate in the cabin

Perhaps Robert Lewandowski played such a role in the mild mood in the team that after his departure to FC Barcelona an improvement in the relationship between the team and the coach was already expected. Especially since Nagelsmann was said to have agreed to respond more to the players’ wishes during training sessions.

But now the stimulating atmosphere in the cabin appears to be back. Several players were reportedly upset that Nagelsmann blamed the players for the loss after the match.

“I would have liked more power, there wasn’t enough greed to move forward. However, we had three great chances to score the third with Serge, Leroy and Jamal,” he complained about the lack of killer instinct after a 2.1 win.

Salihamidzic on Nagelsmann: “Julian is still searching”

Reports of a strained domestic relationship ahead of his reunion with Lewandowski in the Champions League and the start of Oktoberfest, which is so important for tradition-conscious Bavarians, surface at the wrong time.

Salihamidzic protected his most important staff, but didn’t necessarily strengthen the 35-year-old by pointing to his lack of experience: “Julian is still looking for his style. He’s never had such a team before. It’s a learning process for him. That’s why Bayern Munich is Bayern. Munich. It’s not that easy.”

Written by Martin Volkmar

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