For head coach Julian Nagelsmann and FC Bayern, the most important game of the year so far is on Wednesday evening (9:00 p.m.): Against PSG, it’s all about keeping the dream of the Champions League title alive. Nagelsmann has studied the opponent from France in detail – and knows what to expect from Munich.
Julian Nagelsmann has clear ideas about how Paris Saint-Germain will play with star players Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the second leg at Bayern. The Munich team had won the first leg 1-0 (0-0).
“They need at least one goal to equalize. I expect they will put a lot of pressure on from the start,” the head coach told club media.
PSG actually like to defend “deep” in the domestic league, according to the trainer. Coach Christophe Galtier’s team then relied on quick switching games. But: “Your game orientation also depends on which staff is fit and able to play. In the first leg they had to do without Kylian Mbappé in the starting XI, which had a bit of an impact on their match plan.”
FC Bayern vs. PSG: “Both have top stars in their ranks”
When Mbappé came on after recovering from injury in the first leg, “they showed a different way of playing”. He assumes that the game in Munich will now be “much more offensive and open than in Paris”. After all, an early premier class exit for PSG, similar to Bayern, would be a severe blow.
The plan that Nagelsmann came up with together with the coaching team is as follows: “Both we and PSG have an enormous tempo offensively. We want to disrupt them as soon as they receive the ball and be fully physically present from the first minute. That is a tool we need in the second leg to keep the speed they have from getting onto the pitch.”
Ultimately, the “form of the day” will probably decide the outcome of the game. “Both teams are at a similar level as far as the individual players are concerned. Both have top stars in their ranks. But our group has a very good sense of being there for each other and giving everything,” the 35-year-old sees the advantage on the side of the German record champion.
PSG had to cope with a setback before the arrival: Superstar Neymar has to undergo an operation on his ankle. With that, the Brazilian is out for the rest of the season.