After the 1-1 draw in the first leg, anything is still possible for Salzburg against Bayern. Nevertheless, the favorite role is clear. Munich aren’t going into this game as favorites just because of the home advantage. Manuel Neuer has also reported fit again. The six-time Champions League winner is currently experiencing a kind of deja vu. Before the first leg there were questions about the 4-2 defeat against Bochum, but this time it was doubts about a 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. Müller located “unforced errors” and called for a small rethink. “We need to approach risk management differently over the next few weeks. We want to be a playful team, but that doesn’t mean we have to dribble our way out of our own penalty area. A ball in the stands at the right time is nothing wrong,” said the Bayern star (32).
The Bayern coach, Julian Nagelsmann, sees it similarly. Recently, the balance between risk and play has not always been ideal. “Of course, the aim is to solve most things in a playful way. In the end it’s about situations, especially in our defence, where we’re not making the right decisions at the moment. We often prefer to take the playful solution, although it’s not one hundred percent possible,” said Nagelsmann (34).
In terms of communication, he highlighted ÖFB team player David Alaba, who has since moved to Real Madrid. “He talked a lot on the pitch and in the dressing room,” explained Nagelsmann. Others would have to “grow into it first.”
For Tuesday he expected “many parallels to the first leg, in which Salzburg was much braver in the first half, but didn’t run blindly”. In any case, Salzburg must also be physically forced into the battle of attrition. “In the first leg they got a lot more tired from the 60th minute. They also had many corona infections. So it will be our job to keep the pace up,” he clarified. “It will be the case that there is justified euphoria in the initial phase, they will put us under pressure and try to create a rush.”
Müller recapitulated the first leg with respect, in which Salzburg took the lead early on (21st) through Junior Adamu and Kingsley Coman only equalized in the finish (90th). “In the first leg you saw what Salzburg can do in combination with the crowd. You can hurt any team. We were vulnerable that evening,” the striker clarified, but not least emphasized his own performance after the break. “The course of the game wasn’t particularly lucky. In the second half we were really in control. I’m more likely to take this dominance, the example of Salzburg in the last 40, 50 minutes.”
Nagelsmann can count on Manuel Neuer again in goal, he confirmed that on Monday. “When a Manuel Neuer is in goal, the opponents might have a different mindset,” said Müller, referring to the captain’s return after his meniscus operation on February 6th. Lucas Hernandez, who was suspended against Leverkusen, is back in defense. The top performers Leon Goretzka and Alphonso Davies as well as Corentin Tolisso will also be missing.
