The competitive debut of Nürnberg’s coach Klauß is sobering. But that doesn’t have to mean a lot for the second division start in Regensburg.
RB Leipzig started the new season as strong as the old one ended. 25 days after the semi-finals of the Champions League, the Brause-Klub prevailed 3-0 (1-0) in the first round of the DFB Cup at 1. FC Nürnberg. The result with goals from Amadou Haidara (3rd minute), Yussuf Poulsen (68th) and Hee Chan Hwang (90th) hardly reflected the balance of power. In the first half hour, the second division team, overwhelmed by the Leipzig combination vortex, had just 15 percent possession and was well served with the short break. In the end it was 27 percent.
“Still, you saw that something was developing in Nuremberg,” said RB coach Julian Nagelsmann. A statement that was to be understood more as a service of friendship to his former assistant coach Robert Klauss, who had a sobering competitive game debut at the club. “We ran after a lot,” said Klauss. Questions and answers about the one-sided cup game in front of empty stands in the Max Morlock Stadium.
Is there a goalkeeper discussion at FCN?
In public, yes. Christian Mathenia started the fast deficit with a blatant bad pass and later let a few balls bounce off the front. Despite the loan from Christian Früchtl (FC Bayern II), Mathenia von Klauß was confirmed as number 1. The trainer sees no reason to reconsider. “I’m behind Chris,” said the Sky coach. In the test at Union Berlin, Mathenia was still fully convinced that his start into the game was “unfortunate”. Mathenia also attributed his lapse to “the fact that we want to play football bravely under the new coach. Unfortunately, the ball slipped.”
What was noticed about the club line-up?
With Tom Krauss in the center in front of the defense, Sarpreet Singh in the left midfield and Tobias Köpke in the attack, three of the five newcomers began. Nobody could distinguish themselves. Manuel Schäffler, another newcomer, would certainly have played in the storm, but fell out with knee problems. His use at the second division start on Friday in Regensburg (6.30 p.m.) is not certain. Johannes Geis (from 46th) and Robin Hack (after being relegated to the U21s) only came into play in the second half, and ex-captain Hanno Behrens only eight minutes before the end. With his long-range shot, which would probably have passed, Geis ensured the only save of RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi in the entire game. Coach Klauß praised Lukas Mühl, whom he had preferred to Georg Margreitter in central defense: “The knot broke with Luggi.”
What does the appearance mean for the Nuremberg league opener?
The club in Regensburg now has to work out the spirit of optimism again. “In terms of content, that doesn’t mean that much, we can expect a completely different style of play from the opponent,” said Klauss. Regensburg is strong and likes to get over second balls. The team must appear “more aggressive and emotional”. In the second half against Leipzig, he saw signs of this that one had to “take out the positive”. Captain Enrico Valentini remains confident: “We are now blowing a completely different wind than last season. We have confidence; everyone knows what to do.”
Did Nagelsmann even bring the first set?
He did, of the permanent staff only Kevin Kampl had to be content with a short assignment. Captain Marcel Sabitzer suffered a strain in the first half, which brought Emil Forsberg back to the role of playmaker for 45 minutes. Nagelsmann’s experiment with midfielder Tyler Adams as a kind of libero was successful. For defensive opponents you now have “one more option,” said the coach.
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Does Leipzig still need a striker?
New signing Hee Chan Hwang did well as the only agile attacker, not only because of his submission to 0: 2 and his dusting goal shortly before the end. “He is welcome to continue like this,” said Nagelsmann of the Korean. Nevertheless, RB wants to add to the attack after the departure of Werner and Schick. Nagelsmann confirmed interest in the Norwegian Alexander Sörloth, who is on loan from Crystal Palace to Trabzonspor. However, the talks are “complicated” because they have to be conducted with two clubs.
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Hans Strauss
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1. FC Nuremberg
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Christian Früchtl
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DFB-Pokal
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Emil Forsberg
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FC Bayern Munich
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Johannes Geis
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Julian Nagelsmann
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Kevin Kampl
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Marcel Sabitzer
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Péter Gulácsi
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RB Leipzig
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Robin Hack
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Union Berlin
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Yussuf Poulsen
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