Jamal Musiala's hangover at FC Bayern Munich: Not high percentage yet

Jamal Musiala (18) is currently experiencing the first small slack in his young professional career at FC Bayern Munich. The reasons for this are obvious, but coach Julian Nagelsmann still holds out the prospect of improvement. Already on Saturday at the home game against the still unbeaten SC Freiburg?

On Wednesday, FC Bayern Munich broadcast a training video on its social networks in which Jamal Musiala was asked as a keeper. Julian Nagelsmann and his assistant coach fired one shot after the other at the goal guarded by the 18-year-old. A hint that Musiala will soon get his chance to represent Manuel Neuer because there is currently not enough playing time in attacking midfield?

The regular ten-player Thomas Müller had a break against Benfica Lisbon. Instead of helping Musiala to his fifth starting eleven of the season, Nagelsmann relied on his three wingers Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane. This decision was of course not wrong, all three convinced with a 5-2 victory and the associated entry into the round of 16 of the Champions League.

“As a person, you always tend to look for the negative,” said Nagelsmann at the press conference after the game when asked about Musiala. “Why isn’t he playing? The question is: why is someone else playing? Leroy, Serge and King are just in a very, very good mood right now. They deserve to play.” A report from kicker According to Musiala, however, this was not enough as an explanation that he should have sought a conversation with Nagelsmann because of the dwindling playing time.

Jamal Musiala: Fewer minutes, fewer points on the scorer

At the age of 18, Musiala is just experiencing the first small slack in his young professional career. The debut at 17, the trip to the Champions League final tournament including title win in 2020, more and more game minutes in the past season, the appointment to the German EM squad, the election to Bayern player of the month August. And then? Since then it has disappeared somewhat from focus, but this is not only due to dwindling playing time.

Musiala’s playing minutes have decreased slightly compared to the beginning of the season, but his yield is significantly more. He recorded seven scorer points in the first six competitive games of the season with 244 minutes of play, since then only one has followed in eleven games with 267 minutes despite the continuous flood of goals by FC Bayern. The slight decrease in game minutes is also related to the return of Comans, who had missed much of the first phase of the season due to injuries and a heart operation.

For the entire season, Musiala achieved a percentage deployment time of 33.4 percent, making it the 14th most frequently used player in the squad. “That’s not lavish. But that’s not so bad for an 18-year-old at Bayern Munich,” explained Nagelsmann, dragging it out for a long time. “If he now has 35 percent and we are in the last third of the season, then it sucks. Then we would end up promoting him too little.”

Bayern notes: with this Coman must be extended!

1/17

FC Bayern Munich remains free of loss points in the Champions League. On the 4th matchday of the group stage, FCB won 5-2 against Benfica in the Allianz Arena. The scores and individual reviews of the FCB players used.

2/17

MANUEL NEUER: Basically had nothing to do. Powerless with both goals conceded. Submitted Lewandowski’s third goal! Grade: 3.5.

3/17

BENJAMIN PAVARD: Shot a direct decrease just over (20th), shortly afterwards with a good cross on Gnabry. A lot on the offensive and very confident in the passing game. Note 3.

4/17

TANGUY NIANZOU: It was the first game for the French since mid-September. Was concerned about safety and acted largely solidly, but no longer. Grade: 3.5.

5/17

DAYOT UPAMECANO: A proper performance without major highlights. At 1: 2 not quite up to par. Otherwise there was little demand. Grade: 3.5.

6/17

ALPHONSO DAVIES: Blocked twice against Pizzi (1st) early on on his 21st birthday. Great long-range shot (19th), ran a promising counterattack shortly afterwards and led most of the duels at FCB. Played the 3: 1. Grade: 2.

7/17

LEON GORETZKA: With a pass rate of 100 percent in the first half. Neat against the ball and a strong pass to Gnabry (36th). Got the penalty kick. Note 3.

8/17

JOSHUA KIMMICH: Without his great pass to Lewandowski, the 2-0 would not have come about. The same applies to the 3-1 hit when he nicely cleared Davies. Until he was replaced with most of the ball actions at FCB. Grade: 2.

9/17

SERGE GNABRY: Had the first good FCB chance (6th) and scored beautifully with a heel to make it 2-0. Sloppy after Pavard’s cross a good chance (21st), failed alone in front of the goal (36th) and was not up to date on the cross to make it 1: 2. Grade: 2.

10/17

LEROY SANE: Mostly came over the left half space, was hardworking and kept showing up between the lines. After the break even stronger and with the outstanding goal to make it 3-1. Prepared the 4: 1. Grade: 2.

11/17

KINGSLEY COMAN: Outstanding game of the French, who played Grimaldo dizzy, won dozen one-on-one duels and hit many useful crosses – like the 1-0. In addition, best duel at Bayern. Grade: 1.5.

12/17

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI: Shot FCB in their 100th CL game in the lead, scored 4: 1 and 5: 2 and is now in the group phase with 8 stalls. Also prepared the 2-0. But failed with a weak penalty (45th + 1). Note 1.

13/17

JAMAL MUSIALA: Substituted for Coman in the 64th minute. The ease is something he is missing, a noticeable action was not included. Grade: 3.5.

14/17

OMAR RICHARDS: Davies made way for him after 64 minutes. In the back left he didn’t owe anything. Grade: 3.5.

15/17

THOMAS MÜLLER: Sane went down for him after 72 minutes. Was mostly inconspicuous and was hardly on the ball. No rating.

16/17

MARCEL SABITZER: Came for Kimmich after 72 minutes. Shortly afterwards with the bad pass, which initiated the 2: 4. He still lacks a little connection to Bayern’s game. No rating.

17/17

BOUNA SARR: Coming for Gnabry just before the end. No rating.

FC Bayern: The playing times of the attacking midfielders

player	Minutes (from 1530)	Playing time (%)	Gates	Assists
Thomas Müller	1278	83.5	6th	11
Leroy Sane	1131	73.9	8th	9
Serge Gnabry	980	64.1	8th	4th
Jamal Musiala	511	33.4	4th	4th
Kingsley Coman	406	26.5	2	1

Nagelsmann on Musiala: “Will be one of the best players”

Nagelsmann thus gave Musiala, who was bound until 2026, a prospect of improvement, which he can refer to when assessing his situation in the future. Of course, Nagelsmann doesn’t want to be “shit”. In general, it seemed to be a concern of the coach to express the undeniable trust of his probably greatest young talent. At some point he will also become a high-proof!

“Nobody doubts his outstanding qualities, certainly not me,” emphasized Nagelsmann. “He’ll be one of the outstanding players for Germany and Bayern Munich. I’m sure of that. He’ll be one of the best players there are.”

Nagelsmann was enthusiastic about Musiala’s abilities “with the ball in offensive dribbling, but in other areas he still has something to do”. The coach wasn’t more specific, but Musiala confirmed: “He’s not doing anything worse than he was a few weeks ago.” However, he may have improved the new training content in terms of goalkeeping skills.