Dhe aftermath had it all. Coach Julian Nagelsmann caused quite a stir in the cabin aisle after FC Bayern Munich lost 3-2 at Borussia Mönchengladbach. “That’s a joke, is he kidding me or what?” he shouted loudly and stormed into the referee’s cabin. When the 35-year-old came out after about two minutes, he cursed loudly for all journalists in the mixed zone.
When asked in the interview by ZDF and Sport1 that he should have said “softened pack”, Nagelsmann said: “Yes, but I don’t always mean the referees by that.” On Saturday evening Nagelsmann apologized for his behavior. “Emotions are part of sport. And in view of the red card, I had to vent after the game,” wrote the Bayern coach on Twitter: “However, I have to apologize for the choice of words to the team around Tobias Welz. Unfortunately, I clearly went too far there.”
The trigger for Nagelsmann’s excitement was defender Dayot Upamecano’s early red card in the eighth minute for an emergency brake against Alassane Pléa. Referee Tobias Welz’s decision was controversial. According to his own statements, sports director Hasan Salihamidzic had no concrete knowledge of “what the coach said” immediately after the game. However, it is understandable that Nagelsmann reacted emotionally to the decision, Salihamidzic explained: “I think you have to concede that to him now.”
Matthäus criticizes Nagelsmann
At the press conference, Nagelsmann asked not to make the topic too big. “Of course I got upset in the mixed zone. But please don’t put every word on the gold scales,” he said: “There are emotions in this sport, and that’s what it lives on. Not everything I say or give is correct. So please don’t ask 18 questions and not on every title page.”
Bayern President Herbert Hainer also criticized referee Welz for Upamecano’s red card. “I find the decision extremely borderline – I would not have made it like that. It has a lasting influence on the game,” said Hainer of the German Press Agency. “At least I would have expected the referee to look at the scene again.”
Hainer only saw the scene on TV. The Bayern President is in Oldenburg this weekend, where the Munich basketball players will meet hosts EWE Baskets Oldenburg in the cup final this Sunday (3 p.m. at Magentasport). On Saturday evening, Hainer watched the prestige victory in the semifinals against Alba Berlin in the arena and was able to celebrate at least one Munich success. Record national player Lothar Matthäus also criticized Nagelsmann for his freak out. “The choice of words is far off the mark. It will definitely have repercussions for the DFB sports court to use such expressions,” said the former Munich professional on Sky TV.
“That he is disappointed – yes! That he is under pressure – yes! But I still expect not only from a Bayern Munich coach, but in general from those responsible who are on the line, that they choose the right words or that they have it under control,” added Matthäus.
