Nagelsmann’s clear order to Niklas Süle
FC Bayern’s game at VfL Bochum is the first for Niklas Süle after the announcement of his move to BVB. Now his coach Julian Nagelsmann is commenting on the transfer for the first time. And makes the national player responsible.
FJulian Nagelsmann has little time to follow the Winter Olympics on television. “We have a lot of games in the next few weeks, I have a lot to cut,” said the FC Bayern coach before the Bundesliga game at VfL Bochum on Saturday (3:30 p.m., Sky and in the WELT live ticker).
The round of 16 first leg in the Champions League at RB Salzburg follows on Wednesday evening. Nagelsmann prepares his team for the encounters with video analysis, among other things.
Julian Nagelsmann (right) and Niklas Süle go their separate ways from the summer
Source: dpa/Tom Weller
He will continue to use Niklas Süle despite his imminent departure. The centre-back announced during the week that he will join Borussia Dortmund in the summer. He had previously rejected an offer from Munich for a new contract, and the 26-year-old’s contract ends on June 30.
“I understand the one or other criticism from the fans that we shouldn’t let him play anymore. Unfortunately, players sometimes leave us for free,” said Nagelsmann. “But we all have to be aware that the player will still get money from Bayern Munich until June 30th and that we should take advantage of his qualities.”
Nagelsmann formulated a clear assignment for national player Süle: “In terms of character, I expect him to fulfill his duty to throw everything in, go full throttle and have this absolute greed until the last day at Bayern, that we are successful and win the title .” It could also be a motivating situation for Süle, “that you throw everything in for the four months and win everything.”
“I have my opinion”
And what does he say about Süle’s choice of club? President Herbert Hainer recently emphasized that BVB is “not a sporting promotion.” Nagelsmann: “I don’t judge that because it’s not my decision. I have an opinion on that, it doesn’t concern Niki because I’m not in his shoes. I would have liked to continue working with him because I’ve been with him for over ten years.” There are normal processes in football, and this change is one of them.
Speaking to the Bayern fans, Nagelsmann said: “Unfortunately, it’s the way in football that players sometimes switch to places where you don’t find it particularly good as a fan. The other way around, we sometimes get players from clubs where the fans are then think it’s very good that we brought players from this club. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.” World footballer and top scorer Robert Lewandowski switched from Borussia Dortmund to FC Bayern on a free transfer in 2014.
Nagelsmann has to do without captain Manuel Neuer. The goalkeeper will be out in the coming weeks after knee surgery. Sven Ulreich will play for him. “He has some experience. Four weeks ago he played another Bundesliga game. I am confident that he will perform well,” said Nagelsmann. “He has represented Manu very well for a longer period of time. He will perform well until Manu is fit again, so we are in a good position there.”
Something could definitely change in Bayern’s game as a result of this personality. “You can play Manu in any pressure situation, he’s like a field player on a footballing level. It may change in certain pressure situations that you sometimes play a back pass less. At Bayern we still have the right, Ulle has that too, to participate in the build-up game and to be an exit player who can sometimes shift balls. If he decides to play a long ball, that’s no problem either.”
