But the obligation increases the expectations for the new season a bit more. After the Munich shopping tour for over 120 million euros, coach Julian Nagelsmann knew shortly before the central defender arrived at the team hotel that more than the championship and two sobering eliminations in the cup and Champions League were expected of him in the coming year.
“It should be better than last season,” said Nagelsmann on the German night on Wednesday. “When you spend a lot of money on new players, the pressure gets a little bit bigger than last season. But you always have pressure as Bayern Munich coach. I think I can handle it.”
About Gravenberch: “Made an outstanding impression”
After Leon Goretzka’s surgery on his left knee, new signing Ryan Gravenberch is supposed to cover up the national player’s week-long absence: “Now he has the chance to put his stamp on our game earlier. If he plays the way he trains, I think we’ll enjoy him a lot will have.”
Gravenberch, who came from Ajax Amsterdam for a fee of 18.5 million euros, has “made an excellent impression in training” so far, Nagelsmann said. “He’s a very fine footballer and always has good ideas. He has incredible coordination, controlling his bones and the ball.” Gravenberch is a “link player between defense and offense”, but still has “potential when it comes to defense”.
But there could be competition: Konrad Laimer from RB Leipzig is still in discussion. “The market is still open for a while and we’ll see what happens. We’ll definitely do a good job until the end,” said Nagelsmann.
The decisive factor for the outcome of the coming season will be how the new Nagelsmann squad cope with the departure of Torgarant Lewandowski. “It’s a new Bayern Munich. It will be a challenge and I like challenges,” said Nagelsmann. “It’s good for everyone, we have to find new ways and be creative.”