Coach Julian Nagelsmann makes the bitter end of FC Bayern Munich in the Champions League against FC Villarreal, especially in the first leg.
The 0-1 win in Spain a week ago “was the key, we lost the duel there,” said Nagelsmann on “Amazon Prime Video” after the 1-1 (0-0) win in the second leg of the quarter-finals. “Today we did very well, it was one of the best games of the last few months.”
When asked about the consequences of leaving, the 34-year-old reacted tight-lipped. “I don’t know what’s in store for me, Bundesliga, Bielefeld,” said Nagelsmann. “If you lose and are eliminated, that’s how it is. But I’m not afraid, there are worse things.” It was not the “most important game” of his career so far. “It was one of the most important.”
World footballer Robert Lewandowski (52nd minute) put Munich in the lead, substitute Samu Chukwueze (88th) managed to equalize for the previously largely harmless Europa League winner. “In one situation we are not so structured,” said Nagelsmann. “One attack, he doesn’t hit the ball properly. Very bitter.”
Bayern veteran Thomas Müller assesses the game in a similar way: “It’s extremely bitter that we conceded a goal here despite this performance. We played a committed and good game with the fans behind us,” said the midfielder, assessing the performance of the Bavaria very positively. “In the end it will be dissected again,” Müller continued.
Comments on the Champions League from FC Bayern:
Julian Nagelsmann (FC Bayern coach): “The first leg was key. We lost the duel there, we didn’t play well. Today was one of our best games of the last few months. In the first half we have a great chance from Jamal. In the second we have to make it 2-0 with Thomas. That’s a hundred percent. You don’t get many there. They defend it very disciplined, very deep. We did well. In one situation we’re not really in the right structure where we can counterattack. Of course it’s a bit of a tightrope walk in the end. We go there in the pressure situation and unfortunately open the room. One attack, he doesn’t hit the ball properly, but hits it – to top it all off. Very bitter.”
“You always have little space and always the danger of being counterattacked. You have to find a good mix. We had a lot of good counter-pressing, also a lot of intensity in the start-up. Unlike in the first leg, Villarreal never really came out from behind in terms of play. Nevertheless, it’s obviously difficult when you’re 1-0 down to create a lot of chances against such a deep block. Unfortunately, we only converted one of the two or three that we had.”
Thomas Muller (Bayern): “It’s extremely bitter that we conceded a goal here despite this performance. We played a committed and good game with the fans behind us. Maybe we have to blame ourselves for not having scored another goal. But we conceded a goal definitely not in the air, we did a good job of defending the rest of the way. Then they have a situation before the end, and in the end it will be dissected again. Mistakes always happened when we conceded a goal. If you just take today’s game, we have to be very clear here deserve to progress. Adding the game in Villarreal, we have to be happy to have only lost 1-0. The fact that this game only ended 1-1 here today was not supported by the course of the game. It’s very difficult today.”
Mario Gomez (ex-Bayern player and Amazon Prime expert): “In my imagination, there was no option for Bayern to be eliminated. After this game, I’m glad not to be a Bayern player. A very, very bitter moment. That will mean a lot for this club in these weeks, also with the “There are all the question marks that they have. They have to shake themselves a lot now to get back to where they were a few weeks ago. Villarreal can only be complimented. They believed all along that they had this one chance In the end it was stupidly defended by Bayern, with the score. Moreno isn’t the fastest player on the planet either. It wasn’t really good when it was created. If you have an opponent like Moreno, you have to take him on the Set the center line and mustn’t let him get going. Bayern tried everything, they’re just not in the right shape at the moment to win a game like that easily and easily. My optimism wasn’t lost today cht. Villarreal did fantastic with the chances they had and in a way they deserved to go through to the next round.”