Julian Nagelsmann has to put up with critical questions about his tactics after the defeat in Leverkusen. In an interview with DAZN, the FC Bayern coach appears thin-skinned.
Munich/Leverkusen – FC Bayern had imagined things differently: the 1:2 draw at Bayer Leverkusen saw Bayern Munich lose their lead in the Bundesliga to Borussia Dortmund.
FC Bayern: Munich come under pressure after the defeat in Leverkusen in the Bundesliga
Joshua Kimmich’s goal (22nd minute) was not enough because Exequiel Palacios converted two penalties (56th/73rd) after the VAR from Cologne intervened and referee Tobias Stieler pointed out the penalties.
After the game in the Rhineland, coach Julian Nagelsmann also had to put up with critical questions. DAZN expert Michael Ballack criticized the tactics of the record champions – whereas Nagelsmann defended himself in the live interview.
“The alignment, which formation is Bayern best with? In my opinion, the coach hasn’t got there yet,” said Ballack, who played in Munich between 2002 and 2006. “Sometimes with a back three, sometimes with a back four: not everything went well in the first half. With Cancelo on the right, Pavard moved into the middle from the right too often,” said the 46-year-old: “Nagelsmann then corrected that. But in my opinion, Cancelo is a bit wasted.”
As far as a well-rehearsed formation in defense is concerned, the former international explained again, “they haven’t arrived there yet”. Even before the game, Ballack had spoken out in favor of a back four. Bayern had always been “a four-man team,” said the East German.
Julian Nagelsmann: DAZN expert Michael Ballack criticizes the tactics of the Bayern coach
Nagelsmann, who stood next to Ballack and DAZN presenter Laura Wontorra in the interview, did not want to let it sit on him. “Bayern was extremely vulnerable to counterattacks for a long time. We changed that,” explained the 35-year-old from Upper Bavaria about his work and said: “We switched after ten minutes and defended with a back four. That was certainly not due to the formation today.”
Bayern had started with a back three of Benjamin Pavard, Matthijs de Ligt and Dayot Upamecano. Joao Cancelo on the right and Alphonso Davies on the left moved back into a five-man chain when they lost the ball. Which didn’t always work well.
Which formation are Bayern best with? In my opinion, the coach hasn’t arrived there yet.
To classify: The Portuguese Cancelo, loaned by Manchester City, is actually a right-back, but recently played a more offensive part under Nagelsmann, which obviously did not suit him. The Bayern coach, who appeared thin-skinned, cited reasons other than the tactics behind the defeat, which makes the Bundesliga title fight really exciting. Some players would have had a zero percent rate in the duels, said the Munich coach, “so it will be difficult, especially away”.
Julian Nagelsmann: Bayern coach struggles with defeat in Leverkusen
His players also “tried a lot on their own, pressed alone,” he explained: “At some point we defended far too deeply.” Looking at the Bundesliga cracker against BVB on April 1 (6:30 p.m., here in the live ticker) he said: “We definitely have to win, otherwise it will be difficult to win the championship.” (pm)