Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann claims to have received 450 death threats in the aftermath of his side's loss to Villarreal in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The German giants were dumped out of the competition after losing the first leg 1-0 and only drawing the second in Munich on Tuesday, with a late equaliser from Samuel Chukwueze sending the underdogs through to the semi-finals, where they will face Liverpool. But amid the sporting repercussions of Bayern's humiliating defeat, Nagelsmann was personally targeted by supporters.
Speaking ahead of the Bundesliga champions' trip to Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday, the 34-year-old revealed the extent of the abuse on social media and vile messages he was sent. "I know I will always get criticism from all sides - that's normal and I can deal with it. But with 450 death threats on Instagram, it's not so easy," Nagelsmann told a news conference. "If people want to kill me that's one thing, but they also attack my own mother, who doesn't even care about football.
"I don't understand it. As soon as they turn off the TV, people forget all decency. And they think they are the ones in the right, that's the crazy thing." Asked whether he had considered taking legal action, the German replied: "I would never be done with it. I get them after every single game, regardless of whether we win or lose.
"There are more death threats when we play with a back three than when we play with a back four, and obviously a few more whenever we lose." Bayern currently sit nine points clear at the top of the table and are on course to retain the Bundesliga title for a 10th successive season.
However, their early exit at the hands of Unai Emery's team has tainted their campaign, having also been knocked out of the DFB Pokal at only the second hurdle, hammered 5-0 at Borussia Monchengladbach. On Wednesday, Naglesmann admitted: "I don't really know what is coming towards me. But when we lose and are eliminated then that is bound to happen.
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"I am not afraid of that. There are far worse things than that. I will continue doing my job and prepare for the Bundesliga. The team has enough experience with both good and bad moments. You win together and you lose together and you have to play the next games together. Obviously a big chunk of motivation is now gone after this Champions League elimination."
Chief Executive Oliver Kahn added: "We will not start shedding tears. Next year we will attack again. We now have the amazing opportunity to become champions for the 10th consecutive time. We will focus on that and give it all we have."
