Nagelsmann, Hertha’s Magath want Bayern to show more passion
BAYERN Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann has vowed changes after the freshly crowned Bundesliga champions delivered a listless performance in a -1 defeat at Mainz.
And Hertha Berlin coach Felix Magath urged an instant turnaround and more professionalism in Munich next weekend against VfB Stuttgart, who are fighting relegation along with his team.
Bayern’s meltdown in Mainz was their fifth league defeat in a season which also includes a shocking 5-0 German Cup loss at Borussia M nchengladbach and a surprise quarter-final exit in the Champions eague against Villarreal.
“There have been too many defeats of this kind,” Nagelsmann said.
“When it appears that we just have some kind of job to do and there is no passion then we have reached the point where we have to change something. That’s where we are right now.
“When you become champions 10 years in a row a time comes where we say we must make a few things differently. I want us to continue our path successfully and not to say at some stage, shit, we missed the point to initiate changes .” Team leader Joshua immich was also upset after a match in which Mainz hit the crossbar and post three times and had 22 attempts to the mere seven of Munich.
“The performance today should give us food for thought,” immich said.
“Of course, we won the league last week. Nevertheless, this has happened to us far too often this season. We have to analyse this so that it doesn’t happen again in the next two games and, in particular, next season.” Nagelsmann said he had an explanation for the lacklustre showing a week after they clinched the title with a -1 win over second-placed Borussia Dortmund.
But he refused to share it and would also not reveal the changes envisioned for the new season to overcome what appears to be a mentality problem in some games.
Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic confirmed media reports on Sunday that the squad had flown off to Ibiza after the Mainz game for “teambonding.” He said it was “completely clear” that Bayern would be fully focused next Sunday against Stuttgart and on the final matchday on May 14 in Wolfsburg.
Former Bayern coach Magath, who told Bild he would “never allow” such an Ibiza trip, was clearly frustrated about the champions’ performance even though his Hertha team only have themselves to blame for not being safe yet after conceding a late equalizer in Bielefeld.
Hertha can save themselves on Saturday with victory against Mainz but Magath is taking nothing for granted. Bayern host Stuttgart the next day having lost 4-1 at home to them on the last matchday four years ago when they were also long crowned champions.
“The situation remains critical between Stuttgart and us. Bayern are champions and you don’t know whether they have stopped playing,” Magath told Sky TV.
“A season lasts 4 matchdays and I don’t know why a team can stop playing three weeks earlier. That doesn’t help the Bundesliga and the competition.”