Julian Nagelsmann has defended Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry and Sadio Mané. The first two in particular were heavily criticized after the 2-1 win against VfB Stuttgart.
Sané, Gnabry and Mané were substituted on in the narrow success over the Swabians in the 64th minute when the score was 2-0. The record champions then lost the thread, conceded the connection and even almost equalized.
As a result, there was criticism for the three substitutes. “The change of three brought a break into the game,” said, for example skyExpert Lothar Matthäus. Other former footballers also chose sharp words, especially Sané and Gnabry got rid of their fat.
Published before the Champions League clash with PSG DAZN a preliminary interview with coach Julian Nagelsmann, who defended the trio. “In general, the discussion that took place in Stuttgart is complete nonsense and also disrespectful towards the three players who are substituted on,” he said, adding: “I think it’s really cheeky that as an expert, when you Mané, Sané and Gnabry comes on, discussing whether that’s right or wrong.”
Nagelsmann said it “relatively doesn’t matter”, but these claims towards the players are “very, very cheeky”, explained the Bayern coach: “If I had substituted three U19 players, okay, but I substituted three players who Claiming to be on the top shelf in Europe or the world and I think that should be there from the 60th minute.”
FC Bayern: Oliver Kahn also protects Gnabry and Sané
A few minutes before kick-off, CEO Oliver Kahn also commented on the subject. Sané and Gnabry are “two world-class players and they are – like everyone at Bayern – under close observation”.
Kahn continues: “And if you play one or the other game where you are not at 100 percent, then it is immediately a crisis. But yes, the competition in this team is enormous. It is important to assert yourself. You are in this one Phase not there at the beginning, but they have every opportunity to offer themselves and our coach is someone who changes all the time. Everyone has every chance and they will take this fight.”
Neither Gnabry nor Sané were in the starting XI against PSG. Mané also had to sit on the bench.
In addition, Kahn made it clear that Nagelsmann would remain a coach even if he were eliminated from the Champions League. When asked whether the outcome of the round of 16 second leg could affect Nagelsmann’s future, he answered succinctly: “No.”
