Julian Nagelsmann
No flu-like infection, but corona! Julian Nagelsmann coached his Bavarians anyway – from the sickbed in the hotel room.
Even before the 4-0 win against Benfica, Nagelsmann complained of malaise. “He has a flu-like effect. He didn't feel like he was coming to the game. So his colleagues will replace him,” said Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic before kick-off. After the game, however, it turned out that it was not a flu-like infection, but a corona infection.
Nagelsmann stayed in the hotel room and started his return journey to Munich on a separate plane. For him, Dino Toppmöller was on the sidelines. But now it is clear: Nagelsmann coached anyway. how did he do that? The Bavarians provide insights.
Toppmöller reveals to German media that he was in contact with Nagelsmann before kick-off, during the break and during the second half. “We then watched and discussed a few scenes that our video analyst Benjamin Glück had edited together,” he explains.
Nagelsmann ordered, among other things, the substitution of Serge Gnabry in the 66th minute. That paid off, all four goals were scored after the change. Toppmöller: “It then showed that he was still clear in his head. In the end, it was a crucial point for us that we were even more dangerous offensively with Serge. It was a brave decision. It paid off . “
“Co” Toppmöller will continue to replace Nagelsmann in the coaching bench at Bayern for the time being. In the long term, however, the distribution of roles remains the same: “If Julian is not there, it is not that I am the boss and make my own decisions. I have not made the great Zampano. I do not take myself more than I am. I am just happy that we won the game and that we represented Julian well as the coaching team. “
