Jamal Musiala delighted coaches, teammates and experts with his next world-class performance shortly before the start of the World Cup mission.
“He’s a cut diamond. He’s worth his weight in gold for us in the national team and in Bayern too,” said national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in praise of the 19-year-old football artist. “He’s also a key player for the World Cup. The player just makes the difference.”
In FC Bayern Munich’s 2-0 victory at FC Schalke 04, Musiala shone as an offensive pacesetter and twice the goal setter. Almost every attack went through the exceptional talent. “It’s magic, it’s Messi-like,” said ex-world champion Lothar Matthäus as an expert on Sky TV. In top form for weeks, Musiala should also play a central role in Qatar. In the current World Cup flow, he is a big trump card for Hansi Flick, maybe even the biggest.
“Full focus on the DFB team”
The national coach had already gathered his national players in Frankfurt am Main this Sunday. Shortly after the last Bundesliga appearance this year, Musiala’s social media profile read: “It’s a great feeling to win my 100th game for FC Bayern. Now full focus on the DFB team.”
Musiala was the first U20 professional ever to break the 100 competitive game mark for the German record champions. That alone shows the exceptional position that the youngster already has with the once again sovereign leaders. Musiala has played a major role in the fact that Munich are doing well in the Bundesliga, in the Champions League and in the DFB Cup. “We have to keep playing like we are now, then we have the chance to win all the titles we can,” said Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann. In the championship you can only beat yourself.
Musiala described the 35-year-old as a “very important component” of his team. Above all, Nagelsmann praised the development of the turbo dribbler’s defensive work. “He played an outstanding first half of the season,” said the coach and is convinced: “Basically, only one injury can stop him, otherwise he will continue to perform as he has in recent weeks.” If Musiala succeeds in Qatar, he could become one of the big stars of the World Cup.
Like an experienced game designer
Speed, ball handling and an overview like an experienced game designer – Musiala is currently showing all of this game by game. Again and again he gets the balls deep in his own half, drives. In the vicinity of the opponent’s goal, Musiala is currently finding the almost ideal balance between a pass to the better-placed teammate or his own conclusion. With nine goals, he is Bayern’s top league goalscorer of the season so far.
After ten wins in ten competitive games in a row, not only Musiala travels to the world tournament confidently and in top form. Bayern’s form dip in September seems to be ages ago. “It’s important how the individual performance of the players is and that the momentum is carried along because we don’t have much time until the game against Japan takes place,” said national team captain Neuer with a view to the first World Cup group game on April 23. November.
Coach Nagelsmann deliberately wants to hold back during the World Cup. From time to time he will write to his players, he said. But he didn’t want to interrupt Flick. “I won’t give any tactical instructions, but instead find words of praise or words of encouragement – depending on how things are going.” Words of praise would currently be nothing new for Musiala.
