BDuring the shooting competition with world footballer Robert Lewandowski, Julian Nagelsmann almost looked as if the FC Bayern coach was preparing for his emergency response because of the Munich corona dilemma. The kicking coach was already missing eight stars during the final training session. And two more wobble for the Champions League game at Dynamo Kiev, to which Munich had to travel with pandemic problems such as quarantine and salary problems.
Nagelsmann conjures up team spirit in tricky times. “I don’t think it will break the team. In the end you have to grow with it and be there for each other, “he said about the risk of a split in the series champions because of the greater risk of quarantine for unvaccinated players like Joshua Kimmich. “This is a situation in which you can grow, and in which we as Bayern Munich should grow.”
With the already booked round of 16 ticket in their luggage, the greatly reduced Bayern travel group jetted to the high-risk region of Ukraine by special flight. There is to be finalized on Tuesday (6.45 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and at DAZN) shortly after the 1: 2 in everyday league against FC Augsburg, the group win in Europe’s premier football class. Even a defeat could be enough to secure first place ahead of time.
“I respect the decision”
In view of the reduced sporting importance, after the corona illnesses of Niklas Süle and Josip Stanisic, who are supposed to be back at the weekend against Arminia Bielefeld, the quarantine-related absence of Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Michael Cuisance doesn’t weigh particularly heavily in this isolated game. “It’s not like we’re arriving with any counter troop,” Nagelsmann announced.
Two weeks before the Bundesliga summit in Dortmund, the failures, some of which result from a waiver of vaccinations, bring difficulties for the record champions. And they cannot please vaccinated professionals in the ensemble. Their workload increases, while the quarantine professionals, who are reportedly lost in their salaries, lose their rhythm.
“We as a team want to have them with us,” said Leroy Sané. As the face of a vaccination campaign, the international campaigned offensively for the Corona Piks. He did not reach some of his teammates in this way, or in conversations about the irritating topic. “In the end, I respect their decision,” said Sané.
There is nothing else left for the players and the club. Although the club is trying to increase the pressure on the vaccineers by the rumored wage cuts for players in quarantine. “In the end, it’s always better when it’s quiet and athletic. But we mustn’t make the mistake of projecting these issues too much onto the sporting side, ”warned Nagelsmann three days after the annoying slip in Augsburg. “Now there are no things that extremely endanger our sporting success.”
Joke by Julian Nagelsmann
Nonetheless, apart from all social debates, the current Bayern situation illustrates the mess that unvaccinated players can put a club into. “At the end of the day, a team or group is always honored that you don’t always have to agree, but rather that you are allowed to discuss these issues in a controversial manner. Our players are guaranteed to do that, ”said Nagelsmann about the vaccination question.
Even the thought game about a separate training group for Kimmich and Co. is now haunted by Munich. The Bayern situation, which has been closely monitored in public, also fuels the debate as to whether there should be a 2-G rule for football professionals. DFL managing director Christian Seifert had emphasized that in the event of legal possibilities through politicians “for compulsory vaccination in certain professional groups”, such an option would be discussed “immediately and intensively”.
In addition to the seven corona failures, Munich, who are aiming for success number five after four wins in four games with 17-2 goals in the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, also have to do without the yellow-banned Dayot Upamecano. The missions of the ailing Kingsley Coman and the possible Kimmich replacement Marcel Sabitzer are questionable.
“It is also smart to have a smaller group with direct contact,” said Nagelsmann about his clear line-up – and joked with a kindergarten comparison. “If you were to ask an educator, a care ratio of 1:15 is better than 1:22.” Nagelsmann joked that it was okay for a “certain time”.
5-0 for Bayern in the first leg
In the short term, Sané does not see the quarantine problem as a major hazard for the seasonal goals. But they are probably already haunted in their heads. “You have to see what happens in the future when the bigger and more important games come your way. But at the moment it’s not that far, ”said the attacking player, who has been strong for weeks, with a view of the year 2022.
Dynamo Kiev have after the 0-5 first leg clap and only one point in the account still chances to accompany Bayern in the knockout round. The latest 6: 1 at Chornomorez Odessa and first place in the league give momentum. Aside from sports, Ukraine seems to have left the apex of the current corona wave behind. New infections and hospitalization numbers have been falling for a week.
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