The first pre-season as Bayern Munich manager has not been ideal for Julian Nagelsmann. The German manager is yet to get the results he would have hoped for as Die Roten suffered 2-0 defeat against Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday. The defeat against Gladbach meant that Nagelsmann’s men are yet to taste victory in pre-season after three games.
The defeats may paint a worrying picture, but the Bavarian faithful shouldn’t be much concerned about the team as of now. Since the majority of first-team players featured in Euro 2020, Nagelsmann is yet to work with senior players during the pre-season. Despite fielding young teams, Die Roten has shown glimpses of promise.
Rekordmeister has gradually conceded fewer chances by each passing game. However, they have failed to convert chances at the other end. The defensive structure of the team has looked much better by the third friendly game.
The next game against Napoli will be crucial for the team’s preparations for the new campaign as the majority of senior players are back in training. Robert Lewandowski, Benjamin Pavard, and Leroy Sane have already been spotted at Sabner Strasse, while Serge Gnabry featured in the game against Gladbach.
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Fringe players fail to grab chances in three games
The performances of fringe players such as Bouna Sarr, Mickael Cuisance, and Joshua Zirkzee have been disappointing in the free games. These three games were the chance to impress Nagelsmann and cement a place in the squad. However, the best possible solution for these players will be a loan or permanent move away from Bavaria.
Considering the immense talent of Cuisance and Zirkzee, it is disappointing to see both young players struggling to make a mark in Bavaria. Meanwhile, Sarr has found it difficult to adapt to the new club after completing a late move from Marseille last summer. The coming weeks will be decisive for the future of these players.
Meanwhile, four youngsters from the academy have reportedly impressed Nagelsmann during the last three weeks. The involvement of these young players in the first team next season will likely depend on the transfer activity of Die Roten in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.
Apart from the results, Nagelsmann received some backlash from fans during the game against Ajax. The ultras had jeered the German coach due to history with 1860 Munich in his playing days. The club chiefs will no doubt protect him in the media. Nagelsmann will be looking forward to winning over fans with his work at the club.
Overall, it has not been an ideal start to time at Die Roten for Nagelsmann. However, various other factors are dictating this poor pre-season. The German coach will now turn attention to the final pre-season game and next week’s DFB Pokal clash against Bremer SV.