The beginning of the end for Hansi Flick as FC Bayern coach was the Qatar training camp in early 2020, just two months after Niko Kovac left and became head coach.
On the return flight from Doha to Munich, high above the clouds, Flick made it clear that the squad had to be strengthened in order to be able to play in all competitions for the titles. A thesis that ultimately turned out to be wrong, as Flick and his team got the triple.
But at the same time, sports director Hasan Salihamidzic put pressure on it – and put a strain on the relationship between the two. A year and a half and many arguments later, Flick finally left Bayern after seven titles. Salihamidzic stayed until today – and with it some problems from back then.
Because Flick’s successor Julian Nagelsmann has very similar differences of opinion with Salihamidzic when it comes to personnel issues at Munich. “Sport Bild” even reported on Wednesday that there was “simmering” between the coach and the sports director.
As with Hansi – in May 2022 Bavaria will experience a déjà vu. With far-reaching consequences? Of course, it is not conducive to success if the two most important people in the sporting field differ on crucial issues. Especially if it happens repeatedly.
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According to AZ information, Salihamidzic’s role is now being questioned more and more internally. Brazzo’s future – his contract expires in 2023 – is uncertain, even a premature separation is possible. Aside from sponsor and friend Uli Hoeneß, Salihamidzic has few supporters at the club.
The powerful supervisory board only met on Monday to set the budget for transfers this summer. As in 2021, Salihamidzic has very little financial leeway, but Nagelsmann still insists on some reinforcements.
In addition to Ajax right-back Noussair Mazraoui (24), whose free transfer has been decided, Nagelsmann would like “one or two pressing machines” for midfield, as he explained. These should be Ryan Gravenberch (19) from Ajax and Konrad Laimer (24) from RB Leipzig.
Both players together would cost between 40 and 50 million euros. Can Bavaria still invest at all?
Nagelsmann is hoping because he would like an additional central defender after the departure of Niklas Süle (26) to Borussia Dortmund. The coach himself had tried Nico Schlotterbeck (22) to convince him, but the international decided for BVB – and against Bayern.
Salihamidzic hesitated at Schlotterbeck, the sports director sees the central defense with Lucas Hernández (26), Dayot Upamecano (23), Tanguy Nianzou (19) and Benjamin Pavard (26) strong enough. But not Nagelsmann. Here, too, there is an increased risk of conflict.
“At some point you have to take the risk. At this point we are right now, thinking carefully and observing what is happening on the market and in the team,” said Nagelsmann recently, increasing the pressure on Salihamidzic and also CEO Oliver Kahn: ” If I don’t take the risk, there’s less chance of going to the semi-finals of the Champions League.”
But that’s exactly where the people of Munich want to go. “We didn’t achieve that this season,” said Kahn at the weekend: “But believe me, we’re in it, we want to build a team that can win the Champions League in the next few years.”
For this, however, Nagelsmann also needs a squad that is suitable for such high goals in terms of both top and bottom. Flick gave up at some point when he couldn’t get any further with Salihamidzic. How is the conflict going this time?
This article was written by Maximilian Koch
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The original of this article “It can be tight for Salihamidzic this time” comes from the evening newspaper.
