The review after 100 days in a new job, which originated with US Presidents, has become common currency for anyone taking over an important office, in politics, business and indeed football. Louis van Gaal passed the 100-day mark at Bayern last week, and FCB Director of Sport Christian Nerlinger, who reached 102 days in his job on Saturday, is extremely pleased with the head coach’s settling-in period.
“When I see him going about his work, I’m totally satisfied,” Nerlinger was quoted as saying in an interview with the Passauer Neue Presse on Saturday. The task now was to translate the effort on the training ground into results. “We need to start picking up points and set off on a run. That ’s the challenge now, and we have the quality in the team to do it,” the former FCB pro continued.
Change takes time
Nerlinger said he was not surprised to see Bayern only eighth in the Bundesliga after eight games. “I said before the season I thought we’d make a patchy start. The demands on the players were heavy. There was a tactical concept, but it has to be translated into action.” The team was always going to need time to acclimatise to the new situation, “but then we’ll be very successful, I believe.”
Naturally, Van Gaal is convinced of the same thing. “A coach needs time and trust. If I’m given the time, I have a very good chance of building something big. I’ve proved that at other clubs in the past,” the Dutchman told DSF sports TV, “I think the crowd and the media need to keep the faith in Louis van Gaal.”
Title race far from over
However, the boss is aware that the gap to the Bundesliga leaders cannot be allowed to grow much bigger. “Eight points is a lot, I know that,” said Van Gaal, who nevertheless insisted there was plenty of time to put things right: “The prizes are handed out in April or May, not in October.”
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