Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann praises the Freiburg overall construct and also young national player Nico Schlotterbeck. Bayern is entering the hot phase of the season.
Julian Nagelsmann literally showered SC Freiburg with compliments before the Bundesliga duel this Saturday. “They still have the sweet image,” said the 34-year-old, referring to the likeable image of the sports club and its long-time coach Christian Streich. Above all, Nagelsmann praised the continuity in the work at the sports club, not only in the coaching position.
“You’re not nervous at the club. The overall structure is right,” praised the Bayern Munich coach. In fifth place, Freiburg even have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League. They have developed a new quality this season: “They don’t die in beauty, they have also developed the gift of winning football.”
Out of respect for the Freiburg team, Nagelsmann made only very basic comments about defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who has developed into a national player with top performances this season and has also played in the focus of the record champions. “Nico Schlotterbeck is a very good player for Freiburg and the national team. He has developed really well.” At the end of the season, Bayern lose national player Niklas Süle to Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer and are looking for a replacement for the center of defence.
Playtime is the focus
For Nagelsmann, the focus is on the current season – and the remaining goals. “The most important thing is that we keep up the greed and keep the players fit,” said Nagelsmann about the coming weeks with a maximum of eight games in the Bundesliga and Champions League in April. It’s going into the hot title weeks, in which the Munich team want to bring in the harvest – like every year since 2013, the championship trophy and as a crowning glory preferably the European premier class cup on top.
Just in time for the restart after the international break, the ranks at the top of the table are filling up again. Süle is fit again just two weeks after a small muscle fiber tear in his thigh and, like Leon Goretzka in Freiburg, should collect a few minutes before the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday (9 p.m.) at FC Villarreal. Goretzka called it “extremely redeeming” to finally be part of the team again. It’s been four months since the midfielder last played on the pitch in a Bundesliga stadium. Goretzka was slowed down by stubborn patellar tendon problems, but before his comeback he was also plagued by slight muscular problems in his hip. Goretzka “trained extremely well for two weeks,” reported Nagelsmann happily: “I would like to let him play.”
Kimmich could follow
Especially since Joshua Kimmich continued to wait for the birth of his third child on Friday. The 27-year-old could travel to Breisgau. Nagelsmann said that “a deadline” had been agreed for the match day by when such an action could make sense. The birth comes first. Alphonso Davies is not there yet after heart muscle inflammation. Goalscorer Robert Lewandowski is also planned to play despite a bruised rib.
“Robert is someone who always wants to play and has an extremely high pain tolerance,” remarked Nagelsmann. Considerations that also have something to do with the opponent. “We would make a mistake if we rested players,” said Nagelsmann, also with a view to his line-up puzzle. “Freiburg are a difficult team to play on. They will demand everything from us. It is advisable to inaugurate Freiburg’s new stadium in such a way that we want to try and win there.”
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