MY ACCOUNT
Julian Nagelsmann is glad Hasan Salihamidzic has extended his stay as Bayern Munich sporting director – as long as the man who helped bring him to the club does not sack him.
Bayern announced on Monday that Salihamidzic, who has worked in a boardroom position at the Allianz Arena since August 2017, will remain part of the executive member board for at least three more years.
During Salihamidzic’s time in charge of the sporting department, Bayern have won five Bundesliga titles, the Champions League, Club World Cup, European Super Cup and the DFB-Pokal twice.
Nagelsmann was at the helm for the most recent of Bayern’s league title triumphs and has welcomed the continuity behind the scenes.
“I am very happy about it,” Nagelsmann said at a pre-match news conference on Tuesday. “I like working with him but also from the club’s perspective, he did great work in difficult transfer periods.
“It’s not always been easy. I’ve tried to explain many times that as a sporting director, you can’t decide things by yourself. The supervisory board has to agree with things like they did with his renewal and transfers.
“You can’t walk through the market and collect all the players that you want. There is a supervisory board that needs to decide how and whether things are done. So your hands are kind of tied.
“Hasan has a good connection to everyone in the club and also to everyone in the supervisory board. That helps in many situations. It’s never him by himself or the manager alone but a cooperation of many people from the club.
“Privately, I also have a good connection to him. We have moments where things aren’t all about football but where we talk about other things – that is also good for the working climate.
“So I’m happy I don’t have to adjust to anyone new. He was one of the motors behind me joining the club. I am very happy that the supervisory board made that decision, as long as he doesn’t kick me out!”
Bayern started their latest Bundesliga title defence strongly with three successive victories, scoring 15 goals in the process, prior to being held 1-1 at home to Borussia Monchengladbach at the weekend.
Nagelsmann’s side now turn their focus to the DFB-Pokal, where a trip to third-tier side Viktoria Koln awaits on Wednesday.
Bayern have failed to get beyond round two of the competition in the past two seasons and Nagelsmann does not intend to take the hosts lightly, even if changes to the side are planned.
“We have everyone fit,” Nagelsmann told reporters. “Jamal [Musiala] is not quite 100 per cent yet and probably won’t start, but he’ll be in the squad. We’re going to take everyone with us and make a decision on the day.
“We’ll have to see on Leon Goretzka and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. I’d like to give them a bit of rhythm but they certainly won’t be starting. In all it could be five changes to the side to help give others a chance.
“It is an important game for us, a knockout game. The opposition have an experienced coach and experienced players. It will not be an easy game at what is a great setting, in a stadium with lots of spectators.”
Nagelsmann suggested Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich are among the experienced players likely to start against Viktoria, who are eighth in the 3.Liga after winning three, drawing one and losing two of their first six matches.
One player who definitely will not be involved at RheinEnergieStadion is Joshua Zirkzee, whose move to Serie A side Bologna was confirmed on Tuesday.
Bayern have a buy-back clause for Netherlands Under-21 international Zirkzee, who made 17 appearances for their first team.
