Before Sadio Mané's hoped-for first goal show, coach Julian Nagelsmann not only emphasized the importance of the Supercup title for his FC Bayern.
In the attractive showdown against ex-club RB Leipzig, the heavily souped-up Munich ensemble around the star striker signed by Liverpool FC also wants to set a first signal for the new Bundesliga season.
"Leipzig is a hungry, young club that is always trying to scratch the status of Bayern Munich," said Nagelsmann (35) the day before the duel this Saturday (8:30 p.m. / Sat.1 and Sky) at the Saxons. "It's important that as a club that was top of the league last year, you try to make a little statement and try to show your strength." In addition, "a small title" is also important.
Kahn: "Great position determination"
Nagelsmann's boss Oliver Kahn (53) sees the number one competitive game after the great goalscorer era of Robert Lewandowski (33), who switched to FC Barcelona, as a "super position determination" a week before the start of the Bundesliga. "Borussia Dortmund has strengthened very, very well and is certainly a big competitor in the Bundesliga. But so is Leipzig," said the Munich CEO. "Leipzig won their first title with the DFB Cup. That unleashes certain strengths within a team and a club."
That's evident in the upstart of recent years, whose first title has cemented a still-fresh place in the league establishment. "We want to win everything there is to win," said RB coach Domenico Tedesco (36).
While Munich could celebrate a small anniversary with their tenth success in this not very prestigious title, it would be Leipzig's first win of the silver cup, which is guaranteed at 30,000 euros. Because of the game, the DFB Cup games between the two teams were postponed to the end of August.
More questions about Laimer's future
The attractive duel in which Nagelsmann tried to annoy Bayern from 2019 to 2021 as Leipzig coach is accompanied by the question of the future of Konrad Laimer (25). The people of Munich want the Austrian, for whom RB wants 30 million euros. "Basically, what matters is what the player wants," said Nagelsmann.
Should the midfielder want to change sides after Dayot Upamecano (23) and Marcel Sabitzer (28), who was so strong in the preparation, and then come, the Munich side would surpass the 150 million euro mark for transfer fees. If all bonuses were due, the 200 million euro mark should be cracked. Nagelsmann said he was "basically very satisfied" with his newcomers.
At the first face-to-face press conference on Säbener Strasse in 28 months, Nagelsmann only partially decided which of the new stars would appear immediately. "Sadio has the best chance of playing from the start," said Nagelsmann about the "full professional" Mané.
Tel not yet eligible to play
The French storm talent Mathys Tel (17 / Stades Rennes) is not yet eligible to play. The junior still needs some time to get used to it anyway. This also applies - to a different extent - to Matthijs de Ligt (22 / Juventus Turin), Ryan Gravenberch (20 / Ajax Amsterdam) and Noussair Mazraoui (24 / Ajax Amsterdam).
Six days after the warm-up in the Supercup, Munich will open the new Bundesliga season with Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt. Leipzig starts two days later at VfB Stuttgart. "Bayern should be ready for a good season," said Nagelsmann, who acknowledged an "outstanding second half of the season" for Leipzig. "Leipzig is also one of the main competitors in the championship, they won the DFB Cup."
The two teams have faced each other 14 times so far, with three draws and nine Munich victories. "We're playing at home, in front of a full house, against one of the best teams in the world," said RB midfielder Kevin Kampl (31) on "ran.de". "The German champions are playing against the DFB Cup winners, it's one of the biggest games there can be in Germany." For Leipzig's defense chief Willi Orban, the Supercup would be "the icing on the cake for winning the cup", as he said in "Kicker". "The Supercup is a title and we cannot say that we have no more room in the trophy cabinet."
