Berlin: The youngest coach in the Bundesliga is showing the others how it’s done.
Julian Nagelsmann, who is only 29, led Hoffenheim to a 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich on Saturday, matching his side’s club-record unbeaten run and staying within four points of the league leader.
“We’re going there to be successful,” Nagelsmann declared bullishly before the trip to Munich, though he also needed some luck with both Mats Hummels and Thomas Mueller hitting the post late for a tired-looking Bayern.
“In the end it was lucky we didn’t concede a goal,” Nagelsmann said.
Nagelsmann, Hoffenheim’s former under-19s coach, has revolutionised the side since taking over the senior squad when it was second from bottom in February. Thanks to tactical nous and clever player-management, he saved the side from relegation and has gone on to just five defeats in 24 league games. Now Hoffenheim is third after staying unbeaten for 10 games.
Kerem Demirbay fired the visitors ahead early with a brilliant strike to the top left corner from Nadiem Amiri’s cross. Kevin Vogt started the move by cutting through Bayern’s midfield with a fine pass.
Bayern had chances through Rafinha and Thiago Alcantara but Hoffenheim appeared untroubled until Steven Zuber deflected Douglas Costa’s cross through his own goalkeeper’s legs in the 34th.
“He wanted to save it. (Robert) Lewandowski would have put it over the line if he didn’t go for it,” Nagelsmann said of the own goal.
Bayern improved after the break but lacked the finishing touch. Carlo Ancelotti brought on Mueller and Kingsley Coman to freshen up his attack. Mueller and Hummels came agonisingly close to scoring the winner, only to be denied by the post.
— AP
