Nagelsmann keeps ignoring attacking powerhouse, must he join Bayern? | OneFootball

"Dear national coach, Anton Stach is a must for the World Cup team – absolutely. Look at this. A brutal free kick. And I don't want any objections," exclaimed an enthusiastic Joachim Hebel into the 'Sky' microphones, as Anton Stach had just smashed his free kick against Aston Villa into the net.

He is a regular player in the best league in the world, one of the most dangerous midfielders in the Premier League, and also above average against the ball. Stach is currently in his prime, yet Julian Nagelsmann seems to have no interest in him at all. Is the Bayern bonus missing here?

"He does well there, but he's not particularly strong in headers and not the top duelist either, rather someone who likes to have the game in front of him," Nagelsmann recently explained in a 'kicker' interview when asked about Stach. For the 27-year-old, he currently sees no place in the German World Cup starting lineup, instead, a former player of the national coach is ahead.

"As it stands, Leon Goretzka, despite less playing time at Bayern, will have good chances to play and have a similar role as in the World Cup qualifiers. Because he is someone who also goes into the box, is strong in headers, and brings good force," emphasized Nagelsmann. But wait, what do the statistics actually say?

Right, something completely different. According to 'Opta', Goretzka wins only slightly more than 38.1 percent of his aerial duels this season – his lowest rate in five years. Anton Stach, in the physically tough Premier League, comes in at 62.3 percent. Okay, maybe Nagelsmann didn't pay that much attention, but even with significantly less detailed statistics, Stach is ahead.

📸 George Wood - 2026 Getty Images

In the Premier League, he has started 23 out of 25 possible matches. Goretzka, at the latest since announcing his departure for the summer, is only a rotation player at Bayern. In the last five Bundesliga games, the 31-year-old was not in the squad twice and played for exactly one minute twice. However, Nagelsmann emphasized to 'kicker' that a player does not necessarily have to have a regular spot to earn a starting place at the World Cup.

What is surprising, however, is that Stach – as of now – doesn't even have a chance for a squad spot.

"There has been no communication so far, which I found a bit disappointing because if there is no communication at all, you naturally feel very, very far away from the team, so not considered at all," criticized Stach of Nagelsmann last October in an interview with 'Sky' when asked about his situation.

Even if it's unclear whether the two have had contact since then, it's still surprising. Nagelsmann seems to want to completely overlook the former Hoffenheim player. And this, despite having qualities that could be crucial even against defensive opponents.

Stach, along with Dominik Szoboszlai, currently has the most direct free kicks converted in the ongoing Premier League season (3). Here's a little sample.

Tastes good. Just like the fact that Anton Stach has already created 50 big chances this season. This puts him in the top five of the Premier League, competing with players like Bukayo Saka (50) or again Dominik Szoboszlai (52).

Even his coach Daniel Farke can't stop raving: "He is a key player for us. He combines the perfect balance between defensive skills, physicality, and the ability to give us defensive stability, while also inspiring our offensive play."

Nevertheless, there seems to be no place for Stach alongside Leon Goretzka. Recently, Aleksandar Pavlović played there and did more than well.

Additionally, Bayern players Goretzka and Pavlović know each other inside and out. Currently, this seems to be decisive and is, of course, an advantage that cannot be overlooked. But even then, shouldn't there at least be a bench spot for Stach?

Not so far. Since his debut for the German national team under Hansi Flick in March 2022, Stach has made a total of two international appearances. He was last in the squad in June 2022. Even if the nomination four years ago might have been too early, the 27-year-old delivered consistent performances even before his time at Leeds. Both at Mainz 05 and TSG Hoffenheim, Stach became a regular player before making the move to the Premier League in the summer of 2025.

But who knows, maybe Julian Nagelsmann will eventually listen to the Farkes and Hebels, who regularly see Stach perform brilliantly in the Premier League. In the friendly matches against Switzerland (March 27) and Ghana (March 30), there would at least be another opportunity for the midfielder to show that he can also harmonize with the Bayern stars, even if he doesn't play for Munich himself.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Alexander Hassenstein - 2025 Getty Images