Julian Nagelsmann (35) has to make a very tough starting eleven decision!
The Bayern coach can only bring one of his three super sixes next to Joshua Kimmich (27) against Inter on Wednesday (9 p.m. / DAZN): Leon Goretzka (27) or Marcel Sabitzer (28) – Ryan Gravenberch (20) has despite his strong starting eleven debuts in the cup no chance.
On Tuesday evening, Nagelsmann enthused at the team hotel in Milan: “Sabitzer is important for the team. He was our best player against Union. He doesn’t always play spectacularly, but he’s very intelligent and very clever in tackle and possession.”
After the hymn of praise for the Austrian, it looks as if Goretzka will not be allowed to start again seven weeks after his knee surgery. The national player would have liked to have been in the starting XI at Union.
The coach still leaves a back door open for Goretzka: “Leon is a candidate. He’s on fire and he’s done well. But he’s got a long injury and he’s only had two full-load training sessions, I think.
Nevertheless, Nagelsmann gives the impression that he is currently relying more on his ex-Leipzig captain (came from RB in 2021 for 15 million euros). After a very weak first season at Bayern, Sabitzer has now exploded.
The coach: “I think he stayed positively stubborn. He didn’t throw in the towel, despite negative coverage and bad grades. Others would have succumbed to the pressure and switched. But he has said he knows he can do better. I knew that too, I really wanted to take him with me from Leipzig. Despite offers, he stayed here. He’s incredibly smart!”
Manuel Neuer (36) warns about Inter Milan at the press conference.
Nagelsmann also assesses the opponent from Milan as clever. He warns: “Inter are a very experienced and rip-off team. The defenders in particular, there are always small niggles. That’s how they try to get the opponent out of the game.”
However, Simone Inzaghi’s (46) team did not get off to a perfect start in the league. After five games Inter is only on nine points. Most recently, Inter even lost the city derby against AC Milan (2:3).
Nevertheless, Manuel Neuer (36) also warns of the opening opponent: “The game is an opportunity and a new start for Inter. We won’t underestimate that. We know Inter are a good team.”
The German national goalkeeper says about his own claims in the premier class: “I think that we are among the favourites. A retirement like against Villarreal hurts. We have the ambition and claim to go very far. We want to prove that this season.”
Like his coach, the goalkeeper also praises midfield man Sabitzer: “I see his development very positively. It is partly his credit that we allowed so little at the back. He throws himself in everywhere.”
