Bayern coach
In the ambulance plane back to Munich: Nagelsmann tested positive for Corona
Sick of Corona despite vaccination: Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann, here during the final training before the Champions League game against Benfica Lisbon on the training grounds on Säbener Straße.
© Sven Hoppe / DPA
The goal festival of FC Bayern against Benfica Lisbon in the Champions League had to watch coach Julian Nagelsmann from the hotel room – because of a flu-like infection, as it was initially called. But now there is a new diagnosis.
The positive corona test by coach Julian Nagelsmann overlaid the joy of FC Bayern Munich’s record start in the Champions League. The German record champions published the day after the 4-0 win at Benfica Lisbon and the almost assured group victory, the news of the test result of his “fully” vaccinated coach. The club did not announce how the 34-year-old is doing on Thursday.
Instead of traveling to Munich with the team around the double goalscorer Leroy Sané, who was outstanding on Wednesday evening, Nagelsmann returns home in an ambulance pilot. Back in Munich he will go into domestic isolation and thus be absent for the time being. Nagelsmann traveled with the team, and further corona cases at FC Bayern can only be ruled out after tests have been evaluated.
FC Bayern Munich without Nagelsmann on the sidelines
The Munich team had declared Nagelsmann’s failure in the premier class group game the day before with a flu-like infection. When asked after the game whether corona disease could be ruled out, the Munich-based company referred to the statement of the flu infection from before kick-off.
First and foremost, assistant coach Dino Toppmöller is still required, flanked by the other assistants Benjamin Glück and Xaver Zembrod. He does not want to take himself more seriously than he is, said the 40-year-old Toppmöller. “It wasn’t like I did the big Zampano there. I’m glad we won the game and that we represented Julian well in the coaching team,” said the son of former Bundesliga coach Klaus Toppmöller, whom he said wanted to contact me at night from Lisbon.
The idea of a change came from Nagelsmann
The sick Nagelsmann also had his share in the success in the Estádio da Luz, where FC Bayern celebrated the Champions League triumph and the triple in August 2020.
“It was Julian’s idea how we should make the change. It was a brave decision to bring Serge – but in the end a spot on,” said Toppmöller, who was in contact with his boss via radio at least from the break. “You can see that Julian is sick, but still very fixated in his head – and had a great idea,” said Toppmöller about the Gnabry idea. Serge Gnabry’s offensive move for Benjamin Pavard when the score was 0-0 was a factor on the road to victory.
“Well deserved victory” over Benfica Lisbon
Sané (70th / 85th minute), an own goal by Everton (80th) and a goal by world footballer Robert Lewandowski (83rd) made Bayern celebrate a “well-deserved victory”, as Toppmöller found.
After the defeats of Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg, the Munich team once again documented their exceptional position. And not only nationally, but also internationally. Because as well as the Munich team at their club record start, no other team has made it into the new premier league season this season. “When you see how hungry you have always been in the last few years, including in the championship – that is one of our great strengths. I hope it stays that way,” said the outstanding Sané.
Manuel Neuer with brilliant parades
Perhaps the game would have been steered in a different direction if captain Manuel Neuer had not brilliantly prevented the deficit twice. “That’s why we have the best goalkeeper in the world in our goal,” said Toppmöller about the goalkeeper who played his 100th Champions League game for Bayern.
Up front, Kingsley Coman was back in the starting XI for the first time since his minor heart operation. “I feel very good. I am very happy that I can play without heart problems,” said the winger. The game was really special for him: he scored the 1-0 winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain in his Champions League triumph 14 months ago.