Press conference after the game. The first question to Julian Nagelsmann does not come from the ranks of the journalists, but from the podium itself. “I don’t know, Julian, how you are, but I think you shouldn’t complain if you get penalties in one of the two situations “says Adi Hütter very politely.
The fact that Borussia Mönchengladbach’s coach spoke directly to his colleagues from Bayern Munich about two controversial scenes in the penalty area in the 81st and 83rd minutes was due to the fact that Gladbach could have given a penalty in the first of the two cases, but possibly even in both , actually have to. If the hosts had converted one or both of them, then they would probably have left the field as winners in the season opener against Bayern. In contrast, the game ended in a 1: 1 draw.
Nagelsmann grinned when Hütter spoke directly to him about the scenes. “I haven’t seen the repetitions of the scenes yet,” he said into his microphone, “so unfortunately I can’t comment on that either, but I like Adi Hütter very much and certainly wouldn’t lie to me, so I’m assuming that he’s right. ” Grins on both sides of the podium. Draw also in this peaceful verbal duel. Nobody went home worn out that night. Although Hütter doesn’t have to drive at all. He is temporarily living in the hotel right next to the stadium.
When he closed his eyes in the hotel bed on Saturday night, he should have seen in front of him how after hits by Gladbach’s Alassane Plea (10th) and Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski (42nd) the swaying game in the The final quarter of an hour seemed to tip in favor of the Gladbacher. Marcus Thuram, who came on for Plea in the 64th minute, was brought down by Dayot Upamecano with his hand on the shoulder as well as with his foot in the 81st minute in anticipation of a cross in front of Bayern’s goal. Referee Marco Fritz did not whistle, but was apparently not asked by the video assistant Christian Dingert to watch the scene again. If he had watched the scene again, he could only have decided on penalties. Bayern player Leon Goretzka also saw it that way, who said after the game that “you couldn’t have complained” if you heard the whistle.
Two minutes later, Upamecano again brought down Thuram, who was running away with the ball, from behind in the penalty area. Déjà Vu: Fritz didn’t whistle, but didn’t watch the scene again either. “Funny”, Hütter thought and was right. Very weird, actually. Hütter complained loudly on the sidelines, was visited by Fritz and saw yellow. “The yellow card was deserved,” said Hütter afterwards and was astonishingly relaxed about the injustice with the refused penalties.
Nagelsmann was also relaxed, although his team had hardly been able to defend themselves in the first and last quarter of an hour of the offensive pressure from Gladbach. “Right at the beginning we had an unbelievable number of ball losses,” he complained. “That wasn’t perfect football,” said the striker Lewandowski. “At first I was too high,” complained Leon Goretzka about his unusual position in midfield on the left half position in front of Joshua Kimmich and almost level with Thomas Müller on the right. “I didn’t feel good up there because I was almost on Serge Gnabry’s feet.” He then let himself fall back a bit, reported Goretzka. Then it worked out better.
Had Nagelsmann set up too high at first? It was almost as effective for disoriented Bavarians in the first quarter of an hour. But then they switched to ball possession play from a more comfortable depth and from then on hardly lost any balls. “Of course, not everything can work right away,” said Goretzka. “We’ll improve from game to game.”
There is now ample opportunity to do so. Four times within twelve days: On Tuesday in the DFL Supercup at Borussia Dortmund, on the following Sunday against 1. FC Köln, on the following Wednesday in the catch-up cup match at the fifth division club Bremer SV and three days later on Saturday against Hertha BSC. “There is nothing wrong with getting a rhythm in the game now,” said Nagelsmann, “but of course that also means less training.” Training would be helpful here. Once the upcoming four-pack has been completed, the national players have to leave for international matches. After the already difficult season preparation full of staff gaps, Nagelsmann will not be able to plan a larger intensive course with the entire staff. But Nagelsmann had already realized that it would take time to implement his football idea at FC Bayern. In this respect, the ambiguous opening game in Mönchengladbach did not surprise anyone. Least of all the trainer himself.