Julian Nagelsmann grows a conscience and apologizes to Deniz Undav

STUTTGART, GERMANY - MARCH 30: Coach Julian Nagelsmann of Germany talks during press conference after the international friendly match between Germany and Ghana at MHP Arena on March 30, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Inaki Esnaola/Getty Images) | Getty Images

As Bayern Munich dispatched Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, Julian Nagelsmann took a chance to sheepishly announce to the world that he has grown a conscience.

Back in March, the former FC Bayern coach sparked an uproar by making incredibly dismissive comments about Deniz Undav, which many interpreted as untoward and mean-spirited. Nagelsmann has now revealed that he actually apologized the very next day.

Julian Nagelsmann reveals that he apologized to Deniz Undav over his statements after the Ghana friendly: “That wasn’t right and was also far too harsh to say publicly. I said: ‘That was stupid of me, I’m sorry.’ – It was an unnecessary remark, for which I apologized to Deniz the very next day. Thankfully, he accepted it, and everything is fine between us now. I simply got a bit triggered at that moment by the many questions on the same topic” [@MagentaTV]

It was the right move to make, because the comments in question were honestly shocking. For a man who once said that coaching is 30% tactics and 70% social competence, Nagelsmann demonstrated an incredible degree of social incompetence when he said what he did.

Now, does this mean that Undav will actually be chosen to start for Germany going forward? Probably not. Nagelsmann may not be stubborn enough to withhold an apology, but lineups are a whole different ball game.