Bayern have improved despite Lewandowski’s departure

Robert Lewandowski’s departure leaves a big void for Bayern Munich to fill, yet Julian Nagelsmann has full confidence his squad is stronger now than it was last season.

Bayern sold star striker Lewandowski, who scored 50 goals across all competitions last season, to Barcelona last month.

Lewandowski had refused to sign a new contract with the Bundesliga champions, who made the reluctant decision to cash in on the 33-year-old.

Sadio Mane had already arrived from Liverpool as Lewandowski’s de facto replacement, with Bayern chief executive Oliver Khan having confirmed the club do not plan to sign another senior forward this transfer window.

Bayern have also brought in defender Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus, as well as Noussair Mazraoui and Ryan Gravenberch from Ajax and teenage attacker Mathys Tel from Rennes.

Niklas Sule, Corentin Tolisso, Marc Roca, Omar Richards and Chris Richards are members of the first-team squad to have also left alongside Lewandowski, but Nagelsmann is confident his side have improved overall.

“I’m looking forward to the start with great anticipation I tend to put pressure on myself,” Nagelsmann told a news conference ahead of Bayern’s Bundesliga opener against Eintracht Frankfurt.

“I read very little. It’s normal for Bayern Munich that we always strive for the highest. We lost a striker who scored more than 50 goals, we have to compensate for that.

“I think that’s okay, our squad has improved. I know we’re going to do well. The lads are very motivated.”

Asked if more players might yet arrive, Nagelsmann said: “When the season starts, as a coach you focus on the players that are there and on preparing [for] the opponents.

“As a coach you have to do justice to every player in the squad. I don’t have any expectations one way or the other.

“I’m very happy with the squad, and I’ll see what happens between now and August 31.”

As for Bayern’s goals this season, Nagelsmann is aiming to improve on their trophy haul. A 10th straight Bundesliga title arrived last term, but they exited the DFB-Pokal early on and lost to Villarreal in the Champions League quarter-finals.

“My first championship was nice. The club is longing for more,” Nagelsmann said. “The goal will be to come to Berlin and win the [DFB-Pokal] trophy. We also want to get further in the Champions League.

“It always depends on how lucky we are at the draw and the games. I would also like to take a photo with more titles in it. Maybe we can do that after this season.”