“Paris trip is not forbidden”: Matthaeus is also involved in Gnabry’s “Gucci Gate”.

Paris trip is not forbidden
Mateus is also involved with Gnabry’s “Gucci Gate”.

01/28/2023 09:07 AM

The beginning of 2023 Bayern Munich completely failed. The record holder gets only two points from two matches. They are still making headlines. For example Serge Gnabry, who travels to Paris and is properly reprimanded. This is not good, says Lothar Matthaus.

National record player Lothar Matthaus can’t understand the fuss over Serge Gnabry’s fashion trip to Paris Fashion Week. “It certainly wasn’t the happiest time, and German internationals are currently under special scrutiny. But what did he do?” the 61-year-old asked in Bild newspaper. “Why not fly to Paris if it is not forbidden? For me as a coach this flight is less unpleasant than walking around the houses at night.”

Gnabry made the short trip last weekend and was clearly criticized by sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, and the Street was pleased with ‘Gucci-Gnabry’. During the week, Gnabry was substituted early in the 1-1 draw against 1. FC Köln, and he will not be in the starting line-up for Saturday’s match (6:30pm/Sky) against Eintracht Frankfurt. “He had a chance to show a reaction,” Cologne coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Friday. “He wasn’t very good against Cologne.” Gnabry’s replacement at halftime was for sporting reasons only.

Matthaeus said that the issue “would not play a role for me in the starting line-up against Frankfurt. I would line up with Gnabry – if after training impressions I was absolutely convinced that he belongs in the starting line-up because he is better than the others.” His flight is “relatively less bad than what Manuel Neuer did”. National goalkeeper Neuer broke his lower leg in a ski run after the World Cup and will miss the record-breaking champion for the rest of the season.

Goretzka has completely different problems

Injury concerns, which are far less severe than Neuer’s, plague national player Leon Goretzka, too. The midfielder will be absent against Frankfurt due to muscle problems, and it is unclear when he will return. “I don’t want to take any chances there. That’s why he won’t be available,” coach Julian Nagelsmann said. He hopes that Goretzka will be able to play again next Wednesday in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup at FSV Mainz 05. “I relieve him from the pressure of playing,” he added, before delving into some of the basic problems of the professional.

“Leon has had a few construction sites since his time in Bochum. There are some physiques that sometimes lead to muscle problems. He can’t do anything about it. Sometimes he is born in such a way that certain elements of the body and bone area are not the way they can. That’s why some players never get injured and some get a lot of injuries.”

Predicting the future, Nagelsmann said, “Unfortunately Goretzka always has pains. It is what it is, and it probably won’t be different.” The former Schalke player is “not a lazy player”, but he invests a lot in his body. It was clear that Goretzka had stiffened his upper body muscles during the first Corona phase.

Goretzka was out earlier this season due to knee surgery. And during the winter preparations, the training load had to be reduced at times. Nagelsmann just wants Goretzka to play at his best. “He needs 100 per cent,” the coach explained. “You can see that very clearly in the game when he’s not quite clear in his mind and there are concerns that something is going on. Then the actions are not what he imagines.” In the past, World Cup participant Goretzka missed matches with the national team due to minor injuries and complaints.