MUNICH: Bayern Munich's explosive start to the season with two wins from two games, one trophy and 11 goals scored means coach Julian Nagelsmann(pix) will not be making changes when they host VfL Wolfsburg in their first Bundesliga home game on Sunday.
The German champions beat RB Leipzig 5-3 to lift the German Super Cup before crushing Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt 6-1 in their league opener last week.
Despite the departure of top striker Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona, Bayern have overrun their opponents, with new signing Sadio Mane having quickly become a fan favourite.
“There are two reasons to change something. Performance-related and managing the strain on players,“ Nagelsmann told a news conference on Friday.
“Performance-wise what we saw from the starting team in both matches was very, very good. On managing strain we are still in the humane phase of the season with one game ever seven days, so you don't need to change much.”
Eyeing a record-extending 11th straight Bundesliga title, the Bavarians, apart from Mane, have also brought in French forward Mathys Tel, Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, and Ajax Amsterdam duo Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui.
They had five different scorers in each of their wins so far, with Mane scoring in each of them.
“When you look at the calendar there is no real reason to change and I do not expect to change things,“ Nagelsmann said. “Except if someone scores in the final training 60 goals with 50 shots. Then we can discuss it.”
Nagelsmann reserved special praise for Senegal international Mane who joined from Liverpool this season.
“You can quote (Liverpool coach) Juergen Klopp’s words on Sadio’s departure that from the first day he improved the club and the team and it’s like that for us as well,“ Nagelsmann said.
“He is an extreme team player. He leads the team but also steps back to let other shine. He has had so much success on club and personal level but you feel at no point that he’s an actual superstar.” -Reuters
