Dr. Maximilian Pelka, the psychologist of Bayern Munich’s staff between 2021 and 2023, has criticized the way the club’s leadership handled Julian Nagelsmann’s dismissal in the spring of 2023. In a statement to the magazine “Kicker”, he said it was not fair to give the impression that the coach had not known how to cope with the crisis, reports Telesport.
Pelka criticizes Bayern for the manner of Nagelsmann’s dismissal, calling it unfair. He stressed that the coach had done nothing wrong and that the departure was unexpected. This criticism of Bayern comes from someone who knew the situation inside the club well.
The psychologist linked the dismissal to the pressure of expectations surrounding the club. “Perhaps we need to explain again what situation the club was in at that time. The team was in the quarter-finals of the German Cup (DFB-Pokal) and had just eliminated PSG – with stars like Messi, Neymar and Mbappé – from the Champions League.
However, in the league, Bayern were second, behind Dortmund. That brings us to the pressure of expectations. Everyone always wants more, more, more”, he said.
After a 2-1 Bundesliga defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, Nagelsmann went, as usual, to his office on Säbener Straße and continued working, before taking a few days off just when most of the players had left to join their national teams. After his dismissal in Munich, Nagelsmann took over the Germany national team in September 2023.
He remained in that role for almost three years, until a disappointing performance at the 2026 World Cup led to the early termination of his contract. Jürgen Klopp came in to replace him. Since then, Nagelsmann has not managed any club.