Robert Lewandowski deserves to receive a positive reception when he returns to Bayern Munich as a Barcelona player, according to Julian Nagelsmann.
Lewandowski is set for a swift visit to his former club after Barca were drawn to face the Bundesliga champions in Group C of the Champions League, alongside Inter and Viktoria Plzen.
The Poland international, who scored his first competitive goals for Barca in a 4-1 thrashing of Real Sociedad last week, left Bayern in somewhat acrimonious fashion after declaring that something had died within him in Germany.
But Nagelsmann believes Bayern s fans will give Lewandowski a warm welcome on his Allianz Arena return, declaring: I think there will be applause.
I never like it when someone gets whistled. I don t know all of the processes [leading to his exit], the fan in the stadium are even further away.
There is always a second truth, that things are exaggerated, mistranslated.
On Bayern s tough-looking European draw, Nagelsmann added: It s a challenging group, but we can and want to come through it.
Before Bayern turn their attentions to the Champions League, they will look to maintain a scintillating start to the Bundesliga campaign when they host Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
With nine points and a goal difference of +14 (15 goals scored, one conceded) after three games of the new season, Bayern have made the best start in the competition s history at this stage.
And they have been handed a further boost after midfielder Leon Goretzka returned to full training for the first time since undergoing knee surgery in July, although he will not play any part in Bayern s next outing.
[Eric Maxim] Choupo-Moting was training again but had a few problems today, the Bayern boss added at a pre-match press conference on Friday.
Leon was also back today and completed parts of team training. Neither of them are options to play tomorrow.
Welcome back, !
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN)
Bayern s tally of 15 goals in their first three games of the Bundesliga season is also unmatched in the competition s history, and Jamal Musiala has played a key role, matching new arrival Sadio Mane with three league goals this campaign.
Bayern and Germany great Lothar Matthaus recently declared the 19-year-old could become the best player in the world within the next few years, but Nagelsmann is keen to keep the youngster grounded.
He doesn t have a starting eleven guarantee, Nagelsmann said of Musiala.
Lothar s comparison is an honour. Lionel [Messi] has played at a high level for many years and he has yet to prove that. I trust him. But he s not quite at 100 per cent yet.
I ll be spoiled for choice tomorrow. He has no guarantee that he will play, like everybody else.
