Nagelsmann provides updates: Christopher Nkunku out for the weekend, Hee-Chan Hwang out for the year
Still beaming from his side's 3-2 defeat of Manchester United on Tuesday, a jovial Julian Nagelsmann remained playful and upbeat throughout a Friday presser.
His convivial tone notwithstanding, there was some bad news to report regarding two of his strikers.
His convivial tone notwithstanding, there was some bad news to report regarding two of his strikers.
| Hwang Hee-Chan. | Photo: GEPA Pictures/Felix Roittner |
The 33-year-old trainer laughed and joked with reporters about everything from the upcoming Champions League draw to his own private Ice-hockey regimen. There nevertheless remained some dour news to report upon when it came to one of his players.
Nagelsmann confirmed that new acquisition Hee-Chang Hwang would be given the rest of the year off after continued struggles with a COVID-infection.
"Hwang had very strong symptoms," the head-coach noted, "He told me that he felt dead for the first seven days. He really wasn't doing well at all."
In light of the severity of Hwang's bout, the club opted to give him the rest of the year off and only re-introduce him into a training regimen gradually.
"We have to be very careful," Nagelsmann said, "Something like that can be very dangerous for the heart."
The young trainer also confirmed that Christopher Nkunku will not be available for the coming fixture against Bremen. The highly-prolific 23-year-old Frenchmen incurred an ankle injury and will be left out of the squad for now.
Nagelsmann noted that Nkunku's absence would directly lead to a start for either Yussuf Poulsen or Alexander Sørloth, but "probably not both."