Bayern coach tests coronavirus positive

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann has tested positive for the coronavirus despite being fully vaccinated and heads into quarantine for the time being, the Bundesliga champions said on Thursday.

Nagelsmann was not on the coaching bench in Munich's 4-0 Champions League win at Portugal's Benfica on Wednesday, with Munich speaking of flu-like symptoms before the game.

"Despite being fully vaccinated, Julian Nagelsmann head coach of FC Bayern Munich, has tested positive for COVID-19," Bayern said in a brief statement Thursday.

"He is returning to Munich separately from the team by air ambulance and will self-isolate at home."

Nagelsmann took to Twitter later Thursday, saying: "Thank you for all the get-well wishes. I am doing fine under the circumstances."

Bayern play Hoffenheim on Saturday in the Bundesliga and next week are at Borussia Moenchengladbach in the German Cup and at Union Berlin in the league.

Nagelsmann could miss all those games and possibly also the November 2 home date with Benfica.

Munich health authorities said that quarantine periods are normally 14 days but that fully vaccinated people without any symptoms can return to their daily life with a negative PCR test after five days of isolation.

The club will also hope that no players and staff have contracted the virus as well in this busy part of the season.

Assistants Dino Toppmoeller and Xaver Zembrod are expected to take Nagelsmann's place like in Lisbon where a Leroy Sane brace saw them make it three wins out of three in the elite event.

"It was a great team performance, without singling anyone out," Toppmoeller said. "The second goal opened the floodgates. All in all, it was a deserved victory."

Sane said "the coaches prepared us well" and Toppmoeller said "I am happy we won the game and that in the coaching staff deputised well for Julian."

Toppmoeller, the son of former striker and coach Klaus Toppmoeller, said he was in contact with Nagelsmann throughout the second half and that it was Nagelsmann from the sick bed who suggested to bring on Serge Gnabry which helped Munich win the game.

"You can see that Julian may be ill but still alert in his head - and with a super idea," Toppmoeller said.

Nagelsmann said in his tweet he was "very proud of the team, my entire coaching staff and the team behind the team. You did great yesterday and deputised in the best possible way."

He will surely also be involved remotely in preparing the team for the game against his former club Hoffenheim who beat Bayern 4-1 at home last year but then crashed 4-1 in Munich.

Hoffenheim are coached by Sebastian Hoeness, the son of former Bayern striker Dieter Hoeness and nephew of ex-Bayern winger and president Uli Hoeness.

Hoeness also issued get well wishes but remained vague whether Nagelsmann's absence would have an impact.

"I believe it is better overall if the head coach is present at the touchline," Hoeness said.