Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann both reprimanded and defended Marcel Sabitzer after the record champions lost 2-1. Quintessence: The Austrian, who already worked with Nagelsmann at RB Leipzig, is “much more than we currently see”.
Sabitzer was involved in both goals in Nagelsmann’s third defeat as an FCB coach. Before the 0: 2 by Andre Hahn (35th), he afforded a momentous loss of the ball.
“The room today was actually predestined for him. In Leipzig he always made it world class,” said Nagelsmann DAZN after the game. The shifts that the midfielder showed at the highest level for the Saxons “we haven’t seen a single time today”. Just a matter of the head? “It works like that,” said Nagelsmann.
It was only the third start of Sabitzer in the Bayern dress in all competitions. During the international break, he emphasized that this was also due to the lack of trust on the part of those responsible. Sabitzer has hardly played a role since his 15 million euro move at Bayern, also due to the standing of Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich in the center.
In addition to Sabitzer, Nagelsmann also criticized the German record champions’ defense. “We always get the goals in the same way. We defend a bit carelessly. If there is not much going forward, you have to be more stable at the back,” he explained.
It is now “to close these construction sites. Loving to win is one thing, hating to lose is another. We have these talent-free actions without end over and over again,” said Nagelsmann.
Müller criticizes the referee and FCB defense
Thomas Müller also sees the current main problem in Bayern’s defense. The “required grip” was simply missing, said the national player, who made his 600th competitive game for Munich in Augsburg. FCB did not show a good game, especially before the break.
“We didn’t deserve it in the first half,” said Müller and added: “It was very bad. We lost balls, crosses came badly. That is a bitter setback for us and our self-image.”
Before the 0: 1, there was also a foul on Serge Gnabry, according to Müller. “We may have a bit of bad luck with the referee. That was not an advantage. We discussed that on the field, but the referee wanted to stick to his opinion,” he said.
Daniel Siebert had decided after a tough, but quite fair entry against Gnabry not to abandon the Augsburg attack. For Müller, a clear wrong decision: “He said that Serge would have to let himself go there. But where do we get there ?!”
For captain Manuel Neuer, however, the defeat was the result of a lack of offensive power. “We had too little activity and courage in the game forward. The problem was that we had too few chances to score,” said the 35-year-old.
