Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic happily clapped each other in the grandstand at Benjamin Pavard's goal gala. At the end of a perfect Bayern week with the Champions League gala against Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé as the celebrated highlight, the frustrated bench pressers from the PSG game succeeded in 5: 3 against FC Augsburg in image cultivation par excellence.
"The guys, who played from the start today and not always in the last few weeks, played an outstanding game across the board," said midfield leader Joshua Kimmich, who was still about before his "Tatort" appearance on ARD a Dortmund blunder in the championship race.
"A very good week", sporting director Salihamidzic applauded with a smile of pleasure the possibly trend-setting record champion days. Pavard, who was suspended in the stands against Paris, celebrated the first brace of his professional career in an entertaining and at times wild game against FCA. Leroy Sané and João Cancelo also shone as goalscorers, while Sadio Mané made a convincing assist when he returned to the starting XI after four months.
Gnabry in no uncertain terms
Serge Gnabry didn't succeed, but he fought determinedly for his reputation on the TV microphone. "None of us come here and say I don't give a shit," said Gnabry on ARD. "The goal against Paris was good to play from the start again, like today, to feel the confidence. I gave it my all." Sometimes the criticism is "a bit too blatant," said the 27-year-old on Sky.
After the short trip to the fashion fair in Paris a few weeks ago, Gnabry received a lot of criticism – also because there was no performance-related reaction on the pitch. Things didn't go well for Sané, who was late to the meeting point more than once. ManCity loanee Cancelo was also frustrated with the role as a substitute. "He did very well. Leroy and Serge are doing well again and are getting their rhythm back," said Nagelsmann about his team of highly talented players. This also applies to the long-injured Mané, who is getting back on track with Bayern after missing the World Cup due to his injury.
Two days off, the stars of the league leaders, who are two points ahead of BVB, gave plenty of autographs during public training on Sunday in wet and cold Munich. The market value of Pavard's signature had shot up particularly steeply. "I'm really happy that Benji is doing so well. In the last four to six weeks he's been one of the outstanding players here with us," said Salihamidzic about the 2018 world champion The 46-year-old also wants to take his time after the contract extension with Pavard.
Stove Wandel
Pavard, who didn't lose a single duel in Bayern's 150th competitive game, demonstratively patted the club emblem on his jersey during the gourmet performance. After repeatedly flirting with a change and not convincing the bosses in the long term, the extension of his contract, which runs until June 30, 2024, has become more likely again. "Two goals are great for me," said Pavard, who went through a change in Munich. The changed position in the back three also helped him.
In the autumn he was fined for a "mistake" off the pitch. The club and the players reacted correctly, Nagelsmann said when asked about reports of Pavard driving under the influence of alcohol. The 26-year-old, who has not yet commented publicly on this, also went through a frustrating World Cup afterwards. National coach Didier Deschamps publicly criticized him harshly, saying his poor performance in the 4-1 win against Australia at the start "didn't do him any good either mentally or physically". After that, Pavard sat outside permanently.
A few days before the quarter-final draw of the Champions League on Friday, Pavard and Munich are back in the flow. "We weren't the only club that had problems after the World Cup. With so many national players, it's not that easy to get back into the rhythm," said Nagelsmann, who was happy about the comeback of another World Cup player. Noussair Mazraoui came on as a late substitute for goalscorer Alphonso Davies after suffering from pericarditis.
