AnalysisMax Eberl Reacts to Nicolas Jackson’s Display as Gnabry Nears Return
Max Eberl acknowledged Nicolas Jackson’s effort against Borussia Dortmund but admitted the forward’s performance fell short of expectations, while Serge Gnabry’s imminent return offers Bayern a timely boost.
“He tried hard, but was unlucky”
After Bayern’s 2–1 win over Dortmund, Eberl evaluated Jackson’s outing, comparing his persistence to a student’s report card that reads “always tries hard.” His verdict was honest yet encouraging.
“He was active, kept running into the spaces and tried hard. But he was unlucky in a few actions.” — Max Eberl, tz München
Jackson struggles to find rhythm
The 24-year-old forward made only his second Bundesliga start and struggled to keep pace with Bayern’s attacking tempo. Deployed as a replacement for the injured Serge Gnabry, Jackson lacked the sharpness and positional awareness needed to link effectively with Harry Kane and Leroy Sané.
Head coach Vincent Kompany substituted him in the 61st minute, introducing Leon Goretzka and pushing Aleksandar Pavlović further forward. Joshua Kimmich later commented, “There are still more opportunities for him.”
Gnabry close to returning
Bayern’s medical team expects Serge Gnabry to return for the Champions League fixture against FC Bruges. The winger sustained a minor adductor issue before the Dortmund match but is recovering well.
“Serge isn’t so bad... He should be available again relatively soon.” — Max Eberl
When asked about his condition after the match, Gnabry smiled and simply said, “Good!”
Competition heating up
With Gnabry’s return imminent and Kompany fine-tuning his attacking options, competition for places in Bayern’s front line will intensify. For Jackson, the upcoming weeks could determine his role within the squad heading into winter.
Keywords: Nicolas Jackson, Max Eberl, Serge Gnabry, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, tz München, Bundesliga, Vincent Kompany, Harry Kane, Aleksandar Pavlović