Julian Nagelsmann claims to have received 450 death threats on Instagram after the Champions League end with FC Bayern Munich. He gets it “actually after every game, regardless of whether we win or lose,” said the coach of the German record champions on Friday.
It is clear that many “want to kill him. But now they’re shooting at my mother, who has nothing to do with football and our departure.” That was “wild,” said Nagelsmann before the Bundesliga game on Sunday (3:30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on DAZN) at Arminia Bielefeld. “Of course you can display all of this, but then I won’t be able to finish it.”
FC Bayern were eliminated after a 0-1 draw in the first leg on Tuesday with a 1-1 draw against Villarreal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. If he sets up a chain of three, he gets more death threats than with a chain of four, Nagelsmann described the comments on the social network. In the event of a defeat, there are “another tick more” of these threats.
“I don’t give a shit, people should write what they want,” said the Bayern coach when asked how he dealt with it. “I don’t get it.” Some people would “forget all possible decency” and go “completely” out of their minds as soon as they turned off the television. “They still think they’re right. That’s the bizarre thing,” criticized Nagelsmann.
After the quarter-finals in the premier class against FC Villarreal, the family of sports director Hasan Salihamidzic had already reported death threats on social media. According to Nagelsmann, he doesn’t believe “that the club is increasing security precautions. You’re still moving around as a private person.” He didn’t want to provoke anyone, “but no one was in front of my house yet.”
Nagelsmann admitted “a bit of sadness” within his team after the Champions League exit. The 34-year-old demanded that his football stars “do their job in the championship” on Friday. “Clear order” are two wins in the next two Bundesliga games on Sunday at Arminia, who are threatened with relegation, and six days later at home in the top game against permanent rival Borussia Dortmund. “You have to turn this sadness into vigour,” demanded Nagelsmann.
With a win over Bielefeld, the Munich team want to get “a match point game against Dortmund” for the tenth German championship in a row. After losing the DFB Cup and the Champions League, it is the only remaining title chance for FC Bayern, who are currently nine points ahead of Borussia.
Nagelsmann is worried about the appearances of left-back Lucas Hernandez and winger Kingsley Coman. Both had muscular problems, reported Nagelsmann. At Hernandez he still has “a bit more hope” for an assignment than at Coman. Defender Niklas Süle is not yet available after the flu.
