Sunday February 12, 2023
“It won’t be enough like this” At FC Bayern there is a red alert
Still firecrackers or already a crisis summit? The ailing FC Bayern practices a lot of self-criticism before the Champions League duel at Paris St. Germain. Especially coach Julian Nagelsmann finds surprisingly clear words. However, nothing is going on with the opponent at the moment.
When Julian Nagelsmann left the arena, visibly pissed off, FC Bayern had long been on the red alert. Despite a successful dress rehearsal before the eagerly awaited round of 16 summit in the Champions League at Paris St. Germain, the irritated coach and his ailing stars were in crisis mode.
“We don’t have a great flow. If we play like this on Tuesday, it won’t be enough to progress,” said Nagelsmann after the tough 3-0 (1-0) win over relegation candidate VfL Bochum with a grim expression. Leon Goretzka also made his mark on Tuesday with world champions Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe (who is back in training after injury) and Neymar in mind (9 p.m. Prime Video and in the ntv.de live ticker) significant concerns: “The way we played is not enough. We absolutely have to step it up a notch.”
“We can’t get the energy onto the pitch”
The people of Munich weren’t interested in the fact that PSG before the cracker – or is it more of a crisis summit? – has its own problems. Can Messi and/or Mbappe play in the first leg? Goretzka emphasized that “we don’t concern ourselves with that”. The German record champions have enough to do with their own shortcomings. “We don’t get the energy on the pitch,” complained Goretzka. Nagelsmann complained about “too little movement and straightforwardness”. The annoyed coach added cheekily: “I hope that the excitement of the competition will bring freshness to your head.”
Bayern have, added veteran Thomas Müller, “somewhere in us but more claim. It could be more refreshing.” That he had replaced the storm legend Gerd Müller with his 428th game as Bayern’s record outfield player? minor matter! Müller demanded a lot more Mia san mia before the duel in the Prinzenpark: “We have to be there, that’s what matters.”
It’s going to be difficult for Bayern this year: at the start there was a crisis in earnings, then the fuss about “Gucci-Gnabry” – and finally the theater around Captain Manuel Neuer and his anger interview. On Saturday, a frustrated departure from Leroy Sané also caused astonishment. According to the “Bild” newspaper, the behavior of the national player, who disappeared into the catacombs immediately after being substituted and did not even high-five with the coach, was not well received by the bosses. The fact that the lead at the top of the table over Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund is now extremely small does not help to calm the situation.
Half-time speech lasts only 90 seconds
Sports director Hasan Salihamidžić therefore refrained from commenting on Saturday – but his expression spoke volumes. Nagelsmann seems increasingly irritated. He can hardly afford another early end in the premier class – especially not missing out on the championship. He was correspondingly angry about the weak performance against Bochum. His half-time speech lasted only “intense” 90 seconds. He didn’t have the feeling “that it makes sense to show scenes. We discussed a few other things,” he said on Sky. But he thinks “that one or the other player has spoken up. Hopefully”.
Müller put Bayern in the lead after a Bochum blackout (41st), Kingsley Coman (64th) and Serge Gnabry with a penalty kick (74th) provided clarity at least in terms of results. And otherwise? Little to nothing. You can no longer manage “that we get from 0 to 100 in important games,” emphasized Goretzka. But that, he added despite all the “anticipation and desire”, “will be necessary in Paris, absolutely”.
Those: ntv.de
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