MY ACCOUNT
Julian Nagelsmann has no fears about being fired by Bayern Munich if he hits a rough patch of form this term, saying the only pressure he feels is his own need to succeed.
The Bundesliga champions get their new campaign under way against RB Leipzig in the DFL-Supercup on Saturday, before kicking off their league title defence next Friday against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Head coach Nagelsmann tasted success in his maiden season at the helm at Allianz Arena, but the 35-year-old’s first campaign was far from the cakewalk Bayern have appeared to enjoy under varying predecessors in the past few years.
The loss of Robert Lewandowski this term also represents a major blow when it comes to firepower, and questions are being asked about whether this could be the year the club’s league monopoly is cracked.
But Nagelsmann feels the only pressure he faces comes from himself, and that whatever challenges his side square up to will happen come what may for him.
“I always put the pressure on myself,” he said. “I want to play the most successful football possible, which is also nice to look at from the outside. I feel little pressure from outside.
“It’s not about life and death in football. If I get fired at some point, I’ll be fired – I’m not too afraid of that! That’s the way it is in the job. I don’t feel the pressure from outside, only my pressure to succeed.
“We want to do certain things better than in the second half of the season [but] I don’t really give a damn about the pressure that’s coming from outside.”
While Bayern have brought in fresh recruits this summer, including Sadio Mane and Matthijs de Ligt, the departure of Lewandowski remains a major void they are arguably yet to fill.
Bayern admire Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane, but it appears far-fetched to imagine them bringing him in now, given how tenaciously Spurs clung to Kane when Manchester City wanted him 12 months ago.
Nagelsmann has not ruled out finding a successor to Lewandowski before time runs out, adding: “There are still four weeks that the transfer window is open, so something could still happen. We are keeping our eyes on the market.”
