Marcel Sabitzer willing to adapt at Bayern Munich

Since joining Bayern Munich from RB Leipzig shortly before the summer transfer window closed, Marcel Sabitzer has featured a total of five times across all competitions, all as a substitute. It wasn’t exactly expected that he would walk right into the starting lineup after joining from Leipzig, and it’s safe to say that the best is definitely yet to come from the Austrian midfielder’s time at Bayern. The continuity and familiarity with Julian Nagelsmann from his time at Die Roten Bullen is certainly something that aided his decision to join Bayern, and he’s well aware of the fact that competition for minutes will be difficult amongst such a star-studded cast.

In a recent interview with FCBayern.com, Sabitzer said that it was really the ideal time for him to make the move from Leipzig and he also commented on where he thinks he’s best utilized on the pitch. On paper, it might not have seemed like the best move to make for Sabitzer since he was such an integral piece in Leipzig’s squad, but he genuinely feels like it was the right time to make the move along with Nagelsmann. “At 27, I’m at the peak age for a footballer, and I always saw myself as being at the high point of my career then. The fact that my former coaches and Dayot Upamecano are also here is a nice bonus and just makes everything perfect for me,” he said.

He wore the captain’s armband at Leipzig, and has now switched to predominantly a substitute’s role at Bayern. It’s certainly a switch that takes some adjusting to get used to, but it was an adjustment he was fully expecting. He knows the quality of Bayern’s squad and that he’s going to have to work incredibly hard to earn a regular place in the team. “I don’t think I can expect to be captain here, I’m aware of that (laughs). But my mentality will never change. I always want to lead from the front on the pitch, give everything and push my team,” he stressed.

Photo by A. Hassenstein/Getty Images for FC Bayern

Sabitzer’s positional versatility is part of what makes him so successful and a joy for any manager to have at their disposal. At both Leipzig and the Austrian National team, Sabitzer has played a combination of central midfield, wide left attacking midfield, wide right attacking midfielder, center attacking mid, and even as a secondary striker. He possesses the ability and where-with-all to able to play any of those positions well, but he sees himself best suited in the attacking role on the left hand side, which is a role currently occupied by the in-form Leroy Sane. “I’m strongest in the left attacking midfield role, but the system is of secondary importance. For now I want to find my place in the team and I’m going to work very hard to do that,” he explained.