FJamal Musiala was given the title “world class” by the coach, the sports director prepared the competition for Bayern in a few weeks. After about an hour of gala performance at the repeated Supercup triumph, the Munich bosses were in a good mood, but the best is still to come in the new era after the successful years with world footballer Robert Lewandowski. “It will be a few more weeks before we get into the right rhythm,” predicted sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.
After swapping places, he was able to enjoy the 5:3 spectacle from the stands and a partly splendid performance by the German champions at the cup winners RB Leipzig. “You could see that we are a fire hazard. That we have a lot of fast players, a lot of prolific players, all capable of scoring goals. And that’s the idea,” stressed Salihamidzic.
The goal-getter named Lewandowski is no longer there, the many goal-getters are alive. “We’re a bit harder to calculate. That doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re more successful,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann – also out of respect for the achievements of the graduate Lewandowski.
If the players went on like this and implemented what they were planning to do, they would be able to spread a lot of goals over different shoulders, explained Salihamidzic. In Leipzig it was the outstanding teenager Jamal Musiala in the 14th minute, new signing Sadio Mané (31st), defender Benjamin Pavard (45th) and Jamal’s national team colleagues Serge Gnabry (66th) and Leroy Sané.
Lewandowski scored twice in the 3-1 Supercup a year ago, and there was also a goal from Thomas Müller, who went empty-handed in the Red Bull Arena in Bayern’s new Unpredictable department on Saturday.
Nagelsmann: Too little preparation
You’ve already seen signs that “we can play really good football,” stressed Salihamidzic. Musiala still stood out – goalscorer and two assists and never to be gotten under control by the Leipzig team. “It was world class,” said Nagelsmann. “If he plays like he does today, he’s indispensable.” Sporting director Salihamidzic emphasized that Musiala is happy to play for Bayern and that he is tied to the club in the long term. “It’s just a feast for the eyes. He’s in such a good mood. A player who really brings joy with his young age. So calm, so good on the ball. Just incredibly good.”
So who to look out for as an opponent? On Musiala? Or would you prefer Mané, who “gives us variability”? Or Müller or Sané or Gnabry? Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt will be next next Friday to try anyway. The fact that Munich could no longer maintain their pace and dominance after an hour had explainable reasons for the club bosses.
With only 19 days of training, the preparation was “perhaps a bit too little”, said Nagelsmann, but with 19 national players there was no other way to do it. Until the opening game of the new Bundesliga season, they now want to “collect a few grains”. What that means for the rivals who want to prevent the next title triumph of the record champions in the 2022/2023 season can be easily imagined after this first competitive game appearance of the new season.
