«A New Era for Football»: Serge Gnabry Praises Former Bayern Munich Coach

FC Bayern Munich forward Serge Gnabry recently lauded his former coach, Hansi Flick, in an interview.

Gnabry, with a smile, acknowledged Flick’s current success in Spain, stating, «He’s getting a lot of sun, which is good.» He further added, «He’s doing a fantastic job at FC Barcelona now and seems very happy there. I wish him nothing but the best.»

Gnabry reflected on their historic 2020 sextuple under Flick at Bayern, stating that the current Barcelona coach «led Bayern to one of the best seasons in football history. It was a truly remarkable period, especially considering the challenges posed by the coronavirus.» The 30-year-old further emphasized, «Despite all the off-field distractions, we achieved immense success. It truly felt like a new era for football, and for FC Bayern.»

Flick initially took charge of Bayern in late 2019 as interim coach following Niko Kovac’s dismissal, having previously served as Kovac’s assistant. In summer 2021, the now 61-year-old departed Munich after persistent disagreements with then-sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, subsequently taking on the role with the DFB (German Football Association). After two underwhelming years as Germany’s national team coach, he was appointed to lead FC Barcelona for the 2024/25 season.

Serge Gnabry: «I Really Like Spain»

Furthermore, Gnabry discussed his friendship with David Alaba, who joined Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2021 after his contract negotiations broke down, ahead of Bayern’s Champions League quarter-final against the Spanish giants. Gnabry remarked, «I really like Spain. I’m very good friends with David Alaba. When I visited him around October and saw the sun shining, I told him: ‘My friend, you made an excellent choice coming here. You did everything right. The sun is shining, and you’re lounging shirtless in your garden.'»

However, a direct reunion on the pitch this Wednesday is improbable. Although Alaba has recovered from a calf injury and is fit, he has remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes in his last three appearances. His tenure in Madrid appears to be drawing to a close, as his contract expires at season’s end and is widely expected not to be renewed.

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