At the end of the press conference on Thursday, Julian Nagelsmann summed up his first six months as Bayern coach. And turned his gaze to Robert Lewandowski and to Wolfsburg.
“I think we played a very good first half of the season,” said the 34-year-old. To do that, he added, his team must also beat VfL Wolfsburg on Friday night in conclusion: “We want to win and keep the gap in the table, so it’s a very important game for us.”
Hopes of a comeback for Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso have been dashed, with the two midfielders missing again against Wolfsburg. In their place, Marcel Sabitzer returns after calf problems. “One more alternative, albeit without real training,” says Nagelsmann, which sounds like a wild card role for the Austrian. The double six is therefore likely to be formed by Jamal Musiala and Marc Roca, as in the 5:0 in Stuttgart, if the Spaniard can: “He has shown a physical reaction to the strain, which is normal after the long time without match practice. I’m still in good spirits with him. “
Will Lewandowski take the next record from Müller?
He is also in good spirits with his top scorer Robert Lewandowski, who has looked noticeably unhappy on the pitch of late and barely cheered when he scored in Stuttgart. “Lewy is incredibly ambitious and likes to have every ball. He’s also just a human being, as such you’re sometimes unhappy, that’s quite normal, there are phases like that.” VfL Wolfsburg could serve as a mood booster for the Pole, against no club did he score more often in the Bundesliga, 23 times in 20 games. He has managed 42 goals so far in 2021, one more against the Wolves and he will overtake Gerd Müller as the record holder, who also scored 42 times in 1972.
The Munich side have not lost any of their 24 home games against VfL in 22 victories, but despite the sporting crisis Nagelsmann warns his opponents: “They are still a very good team. We have to take away their counter-attacking strength. And even if it sounds hackneyed: Boxers who are down are the most dangerous. “
Nagelsmann expects Kimmich back on 2 January
After Wolfsburg, against whom Thomas Müller will play his 400th Bundesliga game, Nagelsmann wants to relax and enjoy a quiet Christmas. At home, he revealed, there will be Christmas wrapping, “Silent Night, Holy Night” always brings tears to his eyes, a few days on the ski slopes would be nice, and he also wants to play ice hockey. On 2 January, things will continue, with a healthy and fit Joshua Kimmich, Nagelsmann assumes. “I’m incredibly happy with how I’ve been received at the club and by the fans. I love the job at Bayern Munich,” he concluded his speech. The only thing missing as the final moment of happiness in 2021 is a treble against Wolfsburg.
