Nagelsmann unconcerned by Gladbach's 'poker face' amid Sommer pursuit
Julian Nagelsmann is not worried by Borussia Monchengladbach's declaration that Yann Sommer is not for sale.
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich have a goalkeeping conundrum to solve ahead of the season's resumption later this month, after Manuel Neuer suffered a broken leg during a skiing accident.
Sommer, who is out of contract in June, has been touted as a candidate to be drafted in to fill Neuer's void, though Gladbach's sporting director Roland Virkus made it clear that the club were not willing to negotiate a sale.
Nagelsmann is not concerned, however, as he feels the comments are part and parcel of the mid-season window.
"I didn't faint at the headline," he said in a press conference when asked about Virkus' comments.
"If he had said the door was open, his board would also have asked him, 'is everything okay with you?' You have to keep your poker face."
Should a move for Sommer not materialise, another option for Bayern would be to recall Alexander Nubel from his loan at Monaco, though Nagelsmann claimed he has not spoken to the 26-year-old.
"I've never really had contact with him. He was already gone when I came, so he was never really my player," he explained.
"I know him as a goalkeeper, but not as a person. At the very beginning we texted, but that was a long time ago. It wouldn't do him much good if I picked up the phone."
Should a new addition not arrive in January, Nagelsmann is happy to call on long-time back-up goalkeeper Sven Ulreich.
Nagelsmann said: "Ulreich played some great games in the first half of the season. He was very solid. That is also the case in training.
"He had a small mistake. Ulle is very relaxed and has known his role for years."
Bayern resume their push for an 11th consecutive Bundesliga title on January 20 against RB Leipzig.
Related items
-
Saints go marching in: St Catherine High to contest first-ever Manning Cup final after penalty shootout win over Jamaica College
St Catherine High School will contest their first-ever ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup final, as they prevailed 5-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout against many-time champions Jamaica College (JC) at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
In a game defined by determination and resilience, the teams played out a tense 1-1 draw in regulation time before the St Johns Road-based school held their nerve from 12 yards to edge past their storied opponents.
Romaine Walters (11th) for St Catherine and Nashordo Gibbs (40th) for Jamaica College got the goals in open play.
The victory was met with jubilation from the St Catherine camp as players, staff, and supporters celebrated their school’s historic feat, which left an almost emotional Head coach, Anthony Patrick, at a loss for words.
For Patrick, it was not just a victory over one of the competition’s giants but a testament to their grit, belief, and teamwork throughout the season.
“Words alone can’t explain how I feel. I must say kudos to the youngsters because they fought hard and dug deep. I must also laud our goalkeeper [Omarion Brown]. He came up big for us, and we know once it gets to penalties, it will work out in our favour. We asked them to stick behind the ball and force Jamaica College to play the long ball so our goalkeeper can come into play because we know once it got to penalties, it would be difficult for them,” Patrick said post-match.
St Catherine began brightly and took an early lead in the 11th minute when Walters calmly converted a penalty after Gentles' shot struck the hand of Jamaica College’s defender Javaun Mills inside the box. The goal marked Walters’ third of the season and gave his team the momentum, despite Jamaica College dominating the early exchanges.
However, the lead did little to deflate Jamaica College, who quickly regrouped and pushed for an equalizer. Their relentless probing eventually paid off in the 40th minute when Giovanni Taylor delivered a precise pass across the box for Nashordo Gibbs to tap home from close range.
Jamaica College almost took the lead on the stroke of halftime when Gibbs broke free and crossed for Taylor, who squandered the opportunity, as the score remained unchanged at the break.
On the resumption, Jamaica College had opportunities to win the contest but failed to find the decisive breakthrough due to a combination of faulty shooting, poor decision-making, and good glove work by Omarion Brown in goal for St Catherine.
In fact, their best chance to steal victory came in the 87th minute when Jamoy Dennis found himself in behind the defence with time and space but somehow fired his effort wide, much to the relief of St Catherine’s supporters.
St Catherine then delivered a flawless display from the spot, with Walters, Nathel Ellis, Dwight Gentles, Josh Reid, and Kadean Young all converting their kicks.
Jamaica College, the tournament’s most successful team, saw Dontae Logan, Dyllan John, and Javaun Mills find the back of the net. However, the pivotal moment came when Jahmarly Bennett’s effort cannoned off the crossbar, sealing the Old Hope Road school’s fate.