MY ACCOUNT
Robert Lewandowski deserves to receive a positive reception when he returns to Bayern Munich as a Barcelona player, according to Julian Nagelsmann.
Lewandowski is set for a swift visit to his former club after Barca were drawn to face the Bundesliga champions in Group C of the Champions League, alongside Inter and Viktoria Plzen.
The Poland international, who scored his first competitive goals for Barca in a 4-1 thrashing of Real Sociedad last week, left Bayern in somewhat acrimonious fashion after declaring that something had “died” within him in Germany.
But Nagelsmann believes Bayern’s fans will give Lewandowski a warm welcome on his Allianz Arena return, declaring: “I think there will be applause.
“I never like it when someone gets whistled. I don’t know all of the processes [leading to his exit], the fan in the stadium are even further away.
“There is always a second truth, that things are exaggerated, mistranslated.”
On Bayern’s tough-looking European draw, Nagelsmann added: “It’s a challenging group, but we can and want to come through it.”
Before Bayern turn their attentions to the Champions League, they will look to maintain a scintillating start to the Bundesliga campaign when they host Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
With nine points and a goal difference of +14 (15 goals scored, one conceded) after three games of the new season, Bayern have made the best start in the competition’s history at this stage.
And they have been handed a further boost after midfielder Leon Goretzka returned to full training for the first time since undergoing knee surgery in July, although he will not play any part in Bayern’s next outing.
“[Eric Maxim] Choupo-Moting was training again but had a few problems today,” the Bayern boss added at a pre-match press conference on Friday.
“Leon was also back today and completed parts of team training. Neither of them are options to play tomorrow.”
Bayern’s tally of 15 goals in their first three games of the Bundesliga season is also unmatched in the competition’s history, and Jamal Musiala has played a key role, matching new arrival Sadio Mane with three league goals this campaign.
Bayern and Germany great Lothar Matthaus recently declared the 19-year-old could become the best player in the world within the next few years, but Nagelsmann is keen to keep the youngster grounded.
“He doesn’t have a starting eleven guarantee,” Nagelsmann said of Musiala.
“Lothar’s comparison is an honour. Lionel [Messi] has played at a high level for many years and he has yet to prove that. I trust him. But he’s not quite at 100 per cent yet.
“I’ll be spoiled for choice tomorrow. He has no guarantee that he will play, like everybody else.”
