MUNICH – A public training session in front of 2,000 fans on
Sunday allowed Bayern Munich to show they are ready for a tough week
of final preparations for the new season.
Back from a tour of the United States, home friendlies against
Fenerbahce on Tuesday and Real Madrid or Tottenham on Wednesday are
followed by Saturday's German Super Cup at last term's runners-up
Borussia Dortmund - the start of the real campaign for fans.
With a German Cup first-round date at fourth-tier Energie Cottbus
following on August 12 before the Bundesliga start at home to Hertha
Berlin on August 16, coach Niko Kovac is hard at work with the future
of Thomas Mueller occupying his thoughts.
The boss seems to have settled on a 4-3-3 formation, meaning the role
of a number 10 behind striker Robert Lewandowski, often filled by
Mueller, is not required.
The former Germany player is not quick enough to occupy the flanks,
where Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman are set to start unless Bayern
manage to bring in the extra winger they so covet following the
departures of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. They also have young
Alphonso Davies in reserve.
Mueller was used as a back-up striker to Lewandowski while on the
U.S. tour, suggesting long spells on the bench for the 29-year-old
this term.
"Thomas played up top for a reason. We have to be prepared when
Robert needs a break, for whatever reason," the coach said.
"Everybody is fighting for their places, everybody wants to boost
their chances to play in the first competitive games. Until the
international break we don't have so many games, you don't play every
three days.
"It's not always easy for a coach because there might be less
rotation."
Forward Jan-Fiete Arp has arrived from SV Hamburg but the teenager
will need time to bed in and it remains to be seen if Bayern will try
to sign another out-and-out forward to ease Lewandowski's load.
Bayern have already recruited France World Cup defenders Benjamin
Pavard and Lucas Hernandez, although the latter is still not fit
after knee surgery.
Their pursuit of Chelsea wideman Callum Hudson-Odoi appears to be
over and Bayern worry they will be priced out of a bid for Manchester
City's Germany winger Leroy Sane.
But the German double winners are determined to do some business.
"There will definitely be transfers," chief executive Karl-Heinz
Rummenigge told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
He also used the interview to say he plans to stay in his role until
his contract is up in 2021. Speculation in German media is rife that
club president Uli Hoeness wants to quit early in the coming months.
Rummenigge refused to discuss Hoeness's future but said he greatly
respected former Adidas boss Herbert Hainer, who reports say is a
possible successor.
"The job is fun for me, it is very interesting and it holds great
responsibility," said 63-year-old Rummenigge.