Symbol of Leroy Sané. / Picture: APA / AFP / CHRISTOF STACHE
Munich. Julian Nagelsmann was enthroned on the podium shortly before midnight in the large press room of the Allianz Arena, was in a good mood and joked. Because after the next spectacular goal of FC Bayern in the Champions League (5-0 against Dynamo Kiev) it is clear: The 34-year-old did not even need the mandatory 100-day period in Munich to succeed the seven-title coach Hansi Flick to leave his own footprint in the football of the record champions.
In the second group win against Kiev, Flick, who switched to the German national coaching office, was able to convince himself of this as a grandstand guest. Particularly noticeable: the well-known pleasure in scoring goals suddenly joins the joy of preventing goals.
“Developing this greed in both directions means a lot to me,” explained Nagelsmann, whose modifications are taking effect. “You can't paint a game how it looks perfect. But we did well for long stretches, ”he said after the ninth win in a row and the next sign of strength to the competition in Europe.
From Bavaria's point of view, it was a well-rounded evening on which, for the first time, “Leroy, Leroy” shouts echoed through the arena, which was filled with 25,000 spectators. “Each of us enjoyed it very much,” said the acclaimed Leroy Sané, who had to cope with whistles a few weeks ago. The ball artist learned to work for a team under Nagelsmann, he actively changed his body language. And he enchants the fans as in his remarkable, albeit unintentional, flank shot to make it 4-0. Sané is an example of a new era. Defender Niklas Süle is also visibly blossoming. “It happened very quickly that you can see Julian's handwriting,” said Bayern boss Oliver Kahn, quite astonished at Dazn.
The new structure
The bumpy preparation without a test match win, the debate about the quality of the squad after the departures of Alaba or Boateng are a thing of the past. Nagelsmann quickly gathered stars like world footballer Robert Lewandowski behind him. He arrives with his open manner. And it incites the ambition of the serial winners day after day.
“We want to continue to implement the tasks of the trainer. I'm excited to see how they will be, ”said Leon Goretzka. The exchange with the young boss takes place “at eye level”, as captain Manuel Neuer, 35, remarked. “He showed us how he wanted to play right from the start.”
Nagelsmann speaks of adjustments. “We already play a slightly different structure with the ball.” In addition, there is “more variability in the basic orders”. Nagelsmann likes the chain of three. Individual positions are filled differently, Sané, for example, no longer sticks to the wing, but often operates in half-space. Next week Nagelsmann will be in office for 100 days. And his Bayern Express rushes through the group stage of the premier class – two games, six points, 8-0 goals.
[RU1JP]
