Preseason, Bayern Munich in crisis: zero wins for Nagelsmann

Something wrong. Not only on the pitch. The Bayern Munich pre-season, net of the many absences, was not convincing. Before Saturday’s defeat against Napoli (first match in which, at least in the first half, the owners were available) for 3-0, the Bavarians had already been beaten by Borussia Moenchengladbach (2-0) and Cologne (3- 2), being stopped at 2-2 by Ajax. Unconvincing results close to the start of the season (on Friday the first round of the cup against Bremer SV, fifth-tier club and on 13 the debut in the Bundesliga with Gladbach). “I would have hoped to win a match, I am more pleased to win than to lose – explained coach Julian Nagelsmann -. It is valid for friendlies as well as for official matches ”.

THE SITUATION

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Compared to last season, Bayern’s squad has changed especially in defense (via Boateng and Alaba, as well as Javi Martinez, in Upamecano and Richards), while, as regards the corporate organization chart, there have been important changes: in the role of director delegate is no longer Rummenigge (in his place Kahn), on the bench it was Nagelsmann who inherited the work of Flick (the coach with whom Bayern had won the treble in 2020). It takes time to find a new balance. Furthermore, most of the squad was involved in the national team until a few weeks ago, which is why Nagelsmann, only from Monday, will finally have all the players available (except for the injured). For this reason, the difficulties in the pre-season were predictable, but many are beginning to wonder if in reality the Bayern squad is not slightly short, as repeatedly complained by Flick during the last season. “We have never seen the full squad – Nagelsmann replied at the end of the match against Napoli -. Only from Monday we will all be. Of course we always have to test the market, but it would have been like that even if we had won all the preseason games. We must always understand if there is any player who can improve us. If we didn’t find anything, we would still have a good squad. I’m not worried because we played well in the first half with Napoli. The goals we have taken are not the fault of the team but of the individuals ”. Maybe, but there are some reasons for tension even off the pitch …

RENEWALS

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As mentioned, Bayern lost Boateng, Javi Martinez and Alaba on a free transfer last year. If the club has chosen not to renew the contract for the first two, an economic agreement has not been found with the Austrian, who has moved to Real Madrid. The company failed to fulfill the player’s requests. The Bayern philosophy, on the other hand, is clear: you do not pass out for anyone. Neither as regards the card nor as regards the engagement. For this, however, it should not be excluded that the club may lose other players in the short term. In 2022 the contracts of Sule, Tolisso and Goretzka expire. The first two, not being immovable owners, are expendable, but losing them to zero would still be an economic damage. Goretzka was offered a pay raise, but the parties are still far apart. According to Bild, the player asks for a salary of about 20 million gross a year (currently he takes 11), the club offers 12. The negotiation is not easy and around Bayern someone has the feeling that the club can no longer stay at the club. I catch up with the world superpowers who are ready to pay more. Nagelsmann has publicly committed himself to Goretzka’s confirmation, but the situation remains intricate. “I speak from a technical point of view and I hope he stays, I would be happy – explained the coach -. I don’t participate in the renewal discussion so actively that I have to say something every day. However, I am confident about the negotiations ”. In 2023, the contracts of Lewandowski, Neuer, Muller, Kimmich, Coman, Gnabry will expire. For this reason those of Alaba before and Goretzka now can represent worrying precedents. And at Bayern there is something wrong. Not only for the bad results of the preseason.