Sports Weekly all-media reporter Huang Sijun
Can Bayern Munich's second-half Bundesliga opener against Borussia Mönchengladbach, which kicked off at 20:30 local time on Friday, go according to plan? Although Bayern Sport director Salihamidzic had discussed with Borussia Moncheng's head of sport, Eber, and the German Professional Football League (DFL), less than 31 hours before kick-off, Bayern manager Nagelsman said at the pre-match press conference: "I can't answer this question 100 percent. It's not up to me, it's up to the DFL and the health department to decide. My job and the player's job is to prepare for this game. As it stands, I think I'll be sitting on the bench at allianz arena tomorrow night at 8:30. ”
In his pre-match press conference with Borussia Moncheng, Nagelsmann was as relaxed as ever.
9 echelon players saved the field
In the past five days, Bayern have confirmed a total of 9 players positive for the new crown on four occasions, including six absolute main players, Neuer, Comand, Sane, Hu palmecano, Lucas Hernandez and Alfonso Davis, as well as Tolisso, an important rotation player, plus Omar Richards and Nyanzu Kwasi, two young defensive substitutes. Among them, Davis only learned that he had tested positive for the virus before training after attending the joint training on Wednesday, which meant that the players he trained with were likely to be close contacts. If Davis were infected with the Omikejong variant virus, Bayern would even face the fate of the entire team being quarantined for 14 days immediately. But as of the time the coach attended the pre-match press conference, players who trained with Davis a day ago could still practice together as usual.
Aliyan Ibrahimović ( right ) and Paul Wanna , also 16, rushed back to the rescue on Sebena Street.
Unlike Wednesday, when only 10 outfielders were left to practice, Bayern's training the day before the match became strong, with a total of 18 outfielders and 3 goalkeepers participating. After the club's efforts, 9 second team and U19 players rushed back to Sebena Avenue to save the field. In other words, as long as the health department gives the green light, Bayern can meet the DFL rule that at least 16 players (there must be 9 professional players, including 1 goalkeeper) can play. And Bayern have made a special application to the DFL so that the coach can use more than 3 amateur players in compliance by then, avoiding repeating the mistakes of Trapattoni.
Among these "firefighters" are Feldhahn, the 35-year-old captain of the second team, as well as 16-year-old Paul Vanner and Alijan Ibrahimovic. The two 16-year-old geniuses had just followed germany's U17 team to training in Andalusia, Spain, on Tuesday and rushed back at the club's notice. Compared with the second-team players who originally had to take a leave until the 10th, the two youngsters were more suitable for playing immediately. And once they get even a minute of playing time in the game a day later, they will break the club's youngest Bundesliga appearance record held by Musiara - 17 years, 3 months and 25 days.
During the pre-season preparation period, Nagelsman had Ibrahimovic Jr. train with the team.
In fact, as early as last July, during the pre-season preparation period, Nagelsman had let the little Ibrahimovic, who was not yet 16 years old at the time, train with the team, which attracted the attention of the media and fans, after all, this young man had a famous surname. Of course, the Ibrahimovic is not related to the AC Milan superstar - in fact, the players called Ibrahimovic in world football are everywhere. Aliyan was born in Nuremberg to a Father from Kosovo and a German mother. He moved from Nuremberg to Bayern Academy in the summer of 2018 and has just been promoted from U17 to U19 this season and has made 10 appearances in the U19 Bundesliga South/South West division, contributing 4 goals and 7 assists, making 3 appearances in the DFB-Pokal, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists, and 2 assists in 5 games in the Youth Champions League. Since making his debut for Germany's U17 team in August last year, the all-rounder has scored seven goals in seven games, leading the team to a record of total wins and showed exceptional talent. A day later at the Allianz Arena, he would be more likely to be in the squad and even get a chance to play than Wanna, who is the same age and position.
Which position is Kimmich going to play?
However, Bayern's frontcourt is relatively neat, but it is missing Comand and Shubo Motin, who wants to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations, and the echelon players who have more opportunities to play are actually defenders led by Arembi. Especially at left-back, with Davis, Richards and Lucas all posing, the recently injured Stanišić still has to practice alone, with the 18-year-old Alay Mbby becoming the only left-back na shuai can use – even though the Germany U19 international is actually the main centre-back.
In last season's Champions League match against Atletico, Are-Mbi already had his first experience of playing for a professional team.
As early as last season's 1-1 away draw with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League group stage, Arrey Mbi made his professional debut as a starting left-back in the three-centre-back system. In Bayern II, Aré Mbi and 2m tall Jamie Lawrence (19) are the main centre-back pairs, and the veteran captain Feldhahn is the third choice, and the latter two also join the joint training the day before the match.
Coupled with Pavard and Jules, who missed Wednesday's training session due to a back injury, bayern centre-back looks like they have enough manpower. What about right-backs? If Pavard were to replace Pa and Lucas with Jules in the double centre-back, there would be a vacancy at right-back, because even the unreliable Bunna Sal went to play in the Africa Cup of Nations. Kimmich can certainly play, but goretzka, who is plagued by a patella tendon injury, can't catch up with this game (neither he nor Na Shuai wants to take risks), and only Zabit and Roca are available in the back position, will Na Shuai put the most important "chicken brother" in the middle of the road, or let him go back to the right to fight the fire? It really needs to be weighed carefully. Of course, it is also possible that the coach will use three centre-backs (Arembi, Jules, Pavard) to solve this problem.
Kimich, who is physically free, is determined to start, but exactly which position he will play is in doubt.
In the pre-match press conference, the coach said that the current situation is really tricky, but it is also very challenging, "from the coach's point of view, it is also very attractive - how do I adjust the game plan to make the players show their strength." "What's even more challenging is that the opponent is Borussia Monchengladbach, who had beaten them 5-0 in the second round of the German Cup. Although he had to stay at home to direct the game because of the coronavirus, the coach admitted that he "already had a small idea of revenge" and that "we didn't win them in the league [opener]. I don't care if it's just amateurs on the bench, I want to win this game anyway. Borussia Moncheng is still a good team, their frontcourt is very impactful, and they have very smart players. This is a team that can easily get out of its current situation (4 losses and 1 draw in the last 5 rounds, currently only 14th in the table). Tomorrow we're going to have a good game with them and leave the 3 points in Munich. ”
Neuers are expected to return next week
If they can survive Borussia Möncheng's level and even complete their revenge, Bayern's personnel situation is expected to be alleviated to a considerable extent before visiting Cologne in the 19th round. Neuer, who is still quarantined in the Maldives, will return to Munich as early as next Monday morning, and Lucas, who is also in the Maldives, is expected to return next Friday because he only tested positive on Monday. Toliso and Richards, who have been at home for 7 days and have been fully vaccinated, ended their isolation on the same day and were tested for the virus, and can return to the team as long as they turn negative, while Comand will end the isolation in the evening and be tested the next day. In addition to viral testing, they also undergo lung tests.
Will Tolisso, Comand and Goretsca return next week?
However, Comand's muscle fibers tore before the winter break needed to recover slowly, and torriso (who missed the last 2 games of the first half due to a muscle injury) and Richards were in much the same situation, and even if the 3 turned all negative and immediately returned to free body, they would not be able to catch up with the match against Borussia Borussia Moncheng, and even next Monday's training would not join. Coach Stressed: "It's about the health of the players and we have a lot of important games. We also want to make sure there are no other injuries, not just COVID-19. Of course, in the ideal case, Neuer, Comand, Tolisso and Richards, including Goretzka and Stanišć, could all return to the big list when visiting Cologne, without having to rely on a group of echelon players to make up so much embarrassment.