Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann then had an understanding: After the wild 4: 4 in the only friendly in preparation against RB Salzburg on Friday, the coach gave his tired players two days off.
Recovery was the order of the day, both physically and mentally. The training camp in Doha and the game on the Bayern campus just one day later had pushed the team to their limits. And beyond. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (gastrointestinal infection). Matthijs de Ligt (ankle problems) and Leon Goretzka (muscle problems) weren’t even in the squad against Salzburg.
From this Monday onwards, however, the calm will be over again. Nagelsmann invites his stars to the first training session of the week, the Bundesliga continues on Friday (8:30 p.m.) with the game at RB Leipzig.
Nagelsmann still has to make some tough decisions in advance. The evening newspaper explains four exciting starting eleven fights. There is competition Hoch Eight!
There can only be a nine at Bayern – and that probably won’t be Müller. Nagelsmann made it clear after the Salzburg test that Choupo-Moting is his first choice. The Cameroonian is scheduled to return to training this Monday.
“The way he’s played in the last few weeks, he’s indispensable,” said Nagelsmann. Müller will therefore probably initially sit on the bench against Leipzig, with Jamal Musiala planned as a tenth.
In the role of centre-forward, Müller was “in the wrong place,” said Lothar Matthäus to “kicker”. You do the 33-year-old “no favors” by calling him up as a nine: “Let him play where he has his strengths. Thomas belongs behind the front, like he used to do with Robert Lewandowski.”
It is not the first time this season that Goretzka has physical problems. Nagelsmann hopes that the midfielder will be available on Friday.
Sabitzer made a good impression after coming on as a substitute against Salzburg and is in great shape again after recovering from the flu. Nevertheless, Goretzka should start alongside Joshua Kimmich. Ryan Gravenberch remains number four in the Bayern center.
Like Sabitzer, Coman was one of the winners of the Salzburg test after coming on. The Frenchman scored a nice goal to make it 3:3 and caused quite a stir overall.
Gnabry, who was in the starting eleven, remained pale. Therefore, he could only be a joker on Friday. Leroy Sané is currently secure in his place on the right flank.
Dayot Upamecano and de Ligt are in central defense after Lucas Hernández ruptured his cruciate ligament. With new signing Daley Blind playing well against Salzburg in the second half there is another option for the center and left back. The famous Alphonso Davies is of course set there.
With Noussair Mazraoui (pericarditis) still missing for a few weeks, there is an exciting duel at right-back: Pavard versus Stanisic. Pavard, who would like to join FC Barcelona in the summer, has a small advantage but the ever-reliable Stanisic shouldn’t be underestimated. Nagelsmann is a big fan of his.
This article was written by Maximilian Koch
The original of this post “These are Bayern’s internal duels that make things difficult for Nagelsmann” comes from the evening newspaper.
