DFB referee boss Lutz Michael Fröhlich has sharply criticised the behaviour of Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann after the 2-3 loss at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday. "I find it abysmally disrespectful to use the term 'pack', no matter what perspective you take on a situation. That's when the understanding on the referee's side comes to an end," said Fröhlich at Sport1.
Nagelsmann had practiced after the final whistle of the game on Saturday fierce criticism of the impartial Tobias Welz because of the early red card against the Munich Dayot Upamecano. The statement "soft-washed pack" was also made, as the Bayern coach admitted in the ZDF interview: "Yes, but I don't always mean the referees." Later, the 35-year-old apologized on social networks for his choice of words, in which, according to his own statement, he went too far. The control committee of the German Football Association has now initiated preliminary proceedings against Nagelsmann.
Referee chief: "Where will this lead?"
"This is not about punishment, that's not my topic at all. It's about much more: How do you deal with different perspectives and opinions? And how do you deal with decisions that do not meet your own expectations? Where is this supposed to lead if it always leads to bigger headlines and conflicts?", added Fröhlich and had some advice for Nagelsmann ready: "Just take a deep breath, pause and don't always use the public stage to present yourself and your perspective as the only right one."
Meanwhile, star striker Sadio Mané has returned to team training after his long injury break at FC Bayern. The 30-year-old took part in the public session on Sunday in front of around 700 fans at the German football record champions. "The training was great. The feeling was fantastic and I'm very, very happy to be back with the team," the Senegalese said in a video interview with the club. He is now looking forward to the atmosphere again, scoring goals and winning.
Mané was part of a training group around Thomas Müller and Dayot Upamecano, who had been sent off the pitch with red, who had only played briefly the day before in the 2-3 win in Mönchengladbach. Longer stressed stars such as Joshua Kimmich or Leroy Sané were allowed to regenerate on Sunday. But they posed at the Säbener Straße in between with the fans for photos and signed autographs.
Mané's competitive comeback is now imminent. Liverpool's summer signing injured his fibula on 8 November in FC Bayern's 6-1 win against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. He had to undergo surgery and missed the World Cup in Qatar. For weeks he had been working individually on his return to competition.
"He's in top shape, he's going through everything, he doesn't have any problems anymore. In general, the rehab is built up in the end in such a way that there is a full load, of course without a duel. Theoretically, he can play again after a week of team training, as far as the physical is concerned," coach Nagelsmann had described Mané's progress before the Gladbach game.
Before the second leg of the Champions League round of sixteen against Paris Saint-Germain on 8 March, Mané could still collect minutes in the Bundesliga in the top game against Union Berlin and VfB Stuttgart. The first leg at the French had won the Munich after a goal by Kingsley Coman with 1:0.