Daily Schmankerl: Talk about the Champions League here!; The aftermath of Bayern vs. Lazio; Bayern Munich makes contact with Chelsea for Christian Pulisic; Tottenham Hotspur wants Julian Nagelsmann; and MORE!

Die Folgen: Bayern’s 4-1 victory over Lazio (Bavarian Football Works)

Bayern Munich was not joking around when they visited Rome on Tuesday. The Bavarians made short work of Lazio in the Champions League with a convincing 4-1 victory in a match that was never close. Here are some quick hitters on the contest:

• Bayern Munich really held control of the game early and all of that pressure eventually led to Robert Lewandowski’s early goal. That effort was part of a completely dominant first half for Bayern Munich. It might have been as impressive a stretch as the squad has had all season.
• Despite making it look easy, Lewandowski had to do some work to score that goal. Sure, it came by of an errant back pass from Mateo Musacchio to Pepe Reina, any slight mis-touch from the Polish Hitman could have prevented the opportunity from even getting off, but his footwork and ball control were silky smooth on his way to depositing the ball into the net.
• For the game, Bayern Munich’s press was extremely difficult for Lazio to manage. Early in the match, the Italian side was completely overwhelmed.
• Niklas Süle dribbling through the Lazio defense was impressive and a heck of a lot of fun. On the day, Süle was very, very good and showed that ability we are used to seeing. Süle looked free and confident and also like he was not going to take any guff from anyone. Hopefully, his funk is over and the big man can move forward with confidence.
• For good measure, Süle added a nice sequence that was capped off with a backheel-flick pass. The video might get disabled by the time this posts, but it is worth a look if you missed it:

• Manuel Lazzari bursting by Alphonso Davies was, uh, kind of crazy. We just don’t see anyone do that. I must have been sleeping on Lazzari, but the man has jets, was creative, and was a threat.
• Speaking of creativity, early on, Bayern Munich was constantly finding new and innovative ways to smother Lazio and it paid off. It was also refreshing to see after a couple of stale and unmotivated offensive showings.
• Bayern Munich was the faster, better team and it showed. Lazio was tough and game, but out-classed.
• Jamal Musiala’s goal was so calm and so precise. The youngster just has a calmness under pressure beyond his years.
• Having Leon Goretzka back in the center of the park was a difference maker. Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich together are the best midfield tandem in the world and it’s not even close.
• Kingsley Coman created a heck of an opportunity that Leroy Sané finished off giving the Bavarians a 3-0 lead.
• Aside of his goal, Sané had some great ideas. He didn’t always execute them, but he looked more like Bayern Munich player and less like a Manchester City player wearing a different kit. This was one of Sané’s best performances to date.
• True to form, Manuel Neuer rose to the occasion as he registered four saves on the night.
• Overall, this was another match that proved Hansi Flick can push all of the right buttons when he absolutely needs to. In addition, this showed the rest of Europe that maybe the Bundesliga is not just Bayern Munich, Erling Haaland, and a few dozen farmers hopping over bales of hay to try and score. Losing to Eintracht Frankfurt is nothing to be shamed for...Die Adler probably would have taken Lazio to the woodshed on this day (with or without wearing overalls and straw hats).

Anyway, if you missed our Match Awards, Observations, or Postgame Podcast, give them a look or a listen:

Bayern chasing Pulisic (The Sun)

The Sun had a story (okay, stop laughing) based on a Fichajes report (okay, just laugh I can’t stop you), that Bayern Munich has made contact with Chelsea in an attempt to bring United States international Christian Pulisic back to Germany:

Bayern Munich are lining up a move for Chelsea star Christian Pulisic to replace Kingsley Coman, according to reports. Coman, 24, is being heavily linked with a switch to Manchester United with the Red Devils prepared to offer him a £120,000-a-week pay rise.

The winger remains contracted to Bayern until 2023 but club chiefs fear his head has been turned by the prospect of earning £260,000-a-week in the Premier League. And now the German giants are already eyeing his long-term replacement. Reports in TodoFichajes claim Bayern have already contacted Chelsea about the availability of American international Pulisic.

The 22-year-old starred in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund for three years under current boss Thomas Tuchel before earning a switch to Stamford Bridge in 2019. Injuries have impacted his time in London but he has shown glimpses of the quality he has to offer. However, the report suggests Tuchel would be open to cashing in on the winger if the right offer came along.

(Don’t do it)

(Stop yourself)

(Ah, damn, just go ahead)

Okay, let’s play along.

Is this possible from a roster perspective: Absolutely. Pulisic could fill roles at wing and as an attacking midfielder. His versatility is something that Hansi Flick could take advantage of. Pulisic already speaks German and is familiar with the Bundesliga. There are certainly a lot of positives you could take out of a move for Pulisic.

Is this feasible from a financial perspective: Maybe. The biggest issue with Pulisic is what he would cost. Given how Chelsea is linked to every major player in the world at this point, it is conceivable that the Londoners could be willing to part with Pulisic for a lesser sale price just because they are in “buy now, win now” mode.

Listen...many great people come from Pennsylvania. Gritty, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s McElhenney...heck, even noted Joachim Löw-apologist Marcus Iredahl spent some of his childhood in the Keystone State! Okay...so maybe not everyone who spends time in Pennsylvania is top-notch, but I digress.

Pulisic could offer Bayern Munich some interesting options with his flexibility and skill. Will this happen? Probably not, but man, it would be so cool if it did.

Madrid and PSG top suitors for Alaba? (JuveFC.com)

Paris-Saint Germain has been long-rumored to be on the “outside looking in” at the David Alaba transfer saga, but yesterday’s report kind of changed the game on that line of thinking. Now, however, Alaba might be considering a move to France and PSG will be set to face off with Real Madrid in a battle to sign the Austrian.

Well, at least according to Fichajes (aka Don Balon 2.0) anyway. JuveFC.com captured the report from the perspective of The Old Lady, who seems set to miss out on Alaba:

David Alaba is causing a transfer battle among top European teams as he gets set to leave Bayern Munich in the summer. The Austrian has emerged as one of the best defenders in Europe and at 28, he still has a good number of years to offer another team.

Juventus has mastered the free agency transfer market in recent seasons, but they seem to have lost this battle. The coronavirus has limited the spending of all European teams and Juve is one side that cannot spend as normal, which affects their chance of signing the Austrian.

The reason Alaba is leaving Bayern is that the German champions cannot meet his contract demands. One can imagine that it will be an enormous demand for that to be the case. Fichajes is reporting that Real Madrid and PSG are the suitors who are battling for his signature at the moment. The report says that Juventus has now been ruled out because they will struggle to compete financially with either team.

It would be a bit stunning if PSG came out of nowhere to sign Alaba. Obviously, they could offer him the financial and sporting package he desires, but nearly every report from the start of this process indicated that Alaba was not interested in a move to France.

As AC/DC’s Brian Johnson once sang, “Money Talks.” And that means this is a GREAT time to insert the video so you can appreciate the greatness of AC/DC.

Spurs chasing Nagelsmann? (Sport Bild)

Could Tottenham Hotspur be the latest English club to try and raid Germany of its coaching talent? Maybe! RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann is reportedly on the wish list of the Spurs:

Tottenham wants Nagelsmann! This is reported by the English “Telegraph.” According to the report, those responsible at Spurs have set an internal deadline for their current trainer José Mourinho (58) — and have already decided on a desired solution for a possible successor.

“The Special One” has to deliver in the next four games, otherwise his engagement with the Londoners could end again after just under one and a half years. Under Mourinho, Tottenham has been in crisis for weeks, losing five of their last six Premier League games. In the table, the Spurs are only 9th — and threaten to miss the European places.

The club management should already be in agreement about who they would like to see as Mourinho’s successor: Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann (33)! However, Tottenham are said to be aware that this would be an extremely difficult undertaking.

Nagelsmann’s contract with RB runs until 2023. And even if the successful coach would consider an early move, he would have more attractive options than Tottenham. For example, Nagelsmann is often loosely associated with Real Madrid.

Losing Nagelsmann would be a huge blow to RB Leipzig and it would be tough to watch another excellent manager leave the Bundesliga, but as the report states , this would be an “extremely difficult undertaking.”

Costa’s future with Leeds? (LeedsAllOver.com)

Douglas Costa’s bags might already be packed in Munich, but where they go next is the big question. It appears that Juventus wants to immediately ship the skilled, but wildly inconsistent, Brazilian off to another club.

Enter Leeds United:

That’s according to Italian outlet CalcioMercato24, who have been outlining the stance that the reigning Serie A champions have on the prospect of such a deal going ahead. Leeds have recently been linked with an audacious summer move for Costa, who is currently currently on loan with Champions League title holders Bayern Munich.

According to this latest report, the Italian giants would want Rodrigo to join them as part of any deal that sees Costa move to Elland Road, with Juventus apparently interested in the Spaniard.