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Speaking at a press conference announcing a collaboration between FIFA and German start-up Kinexon, future Bayern Munich manager talked over his role as one of the game’s new “laptop” coaches.
Kinexon offers sensor technology that can be used for player tracking and Nagelsmann values the kind of insight those types of data points can provide.
“Data is becoming more and more important,” said Nagelsmann (as captured by Handlesblatt).
While Nagelsmann admits to embracing a new age approach, he also uses his gut instinct.
“I take notes with a pencil, I’m not just a laptop coach,” said Nagelsmann (as captured by Tz reporter Philipp Kessler). “And then I check my feelings and observations by looking at the data.”
Kessler also captured this nugget below on Nagelsmann talking through formations. While the RB Leipzig manager did not commit to any formation, his comments on the 4-2-3-1 — the Bayern Munch standard — were interesting:
#Nagelsmann: "Als ich vor 6 Jahren als Trainer in der BL anfing, spielte fast jeder Gegner in der gleichem Formation: 4-2-3-1. Es war nicht so kompliziert, sie zu analysieren. Jetzt spielt fast jeder Gegner einen anderen Stil. Daten können bei der Analyse helfen." @kinexon #FCB
— Philipp Kessler (@kessler_philipp) May 5, 2021
When I started as a coach in the Bundesliga six years ago, almost every opponent played in the same formation: 4-2-3-1. It wasn’t that difficult to analyze them. Now, almost every opponent plays a different style. Data can help with analysis.
The coming weeks should give Bayern Munich fans a clue as to what the future might look like on the pitch for the Bavarians. Clearly, whatever Nagelsmann decides, there will be an effect on the roster.