Matthijs de Ligt is still missing, Leon Goretzka longer. In the first Bayern test, the focus is on the Lewandowski heirs around debutant Sadio Mané.
At first, the well-travelled Bayern stars did not see the world-famous sights such as the White House or the Capitol.
While the new defense boss Matthijs de Ligt, whom President Herbert Hainer praised as an “absolutely desirable player” when the signing was officially announced on Tuesday, clarified the last formalities of his multi-million dollar transfer in Munich, his future colleagues shook their tired heads in distant Washington after a nine-hour flight Legs out on the pitch.
Oliver Kahn once again made it unmistakably clear in the US capital what is required of debutant Sadio Mané and Co. from the first test against DC United on Thursday (1:30 a.m. CEST).
“FC Bayern is always expected to win everything,” emphasized the CEO. The competition doesn’t sleep, “everywhere the clubs are strengthening, the race doesn’t stop”. The new superstars like Mané and de Ligt need it to “challenge the established forces” and “stay at the top”, also in Europe.
And so coach Julian Nagelsmann is challenged to form a title-hungry football team in the city of the former champions Washington Capitals (ice hockey), Commanders (football), Wizards (basketball) or Nationals (baseball). From Wednesday also with de Ligt, who traveled immediately on Tuesday, but without Leon Goretzka, who operated on his knee. And above all: without world footballer Robert Lewandowski, who has switched to FC Barcelona.
Mané at Bayern in focus
The focus is primarily on Mané, who will make his debut against MLS club DC United. “He’s been there from the start, which shows that he’s a world-class player,” said captain Manuel Neuer, praising the new star striker: “He doesn’t hide, he’s not above going the extra mile. It’s going to be a lot for all of us It will be fun to see him at Bayern Munich over the next few years.”
But how does the game change with the 30-year-old? With Mané as Lewandowski’s replacement, you are “unpredictable,” said Neuer. Nagelsmann is also “in good spirits”. From his own experience as a former defender, he knows that “it’s never that easy when you have a lot of players floating around who are difficult to control”.
In Mathys Tel (17/Stade Rennes), whom Kahn praised as a “super strong talent”, another free radical is to be added – sports director Hasan Salihamidzic therefore flew to France on Tuesday. “As far as the offensive is concerned, we have a lot of options,” said Kahn and warned with a view to further arrivals: “We have to make sure that we don’t overdo it now. It all has to make sense.”
Laimer could replace Goretzka at Bayern
Like Konrad Laimer’s commitment, which is also planned. The Leipziger could replace Goretzka, who will miss the start of the season, but after the “initial shock” greeted with a smile from the Innsbruck surgery site on Tuesday. He is doing “very well”, assured the national player.
Or like de Ligt, which costs up to 80 million euros, and which Kahn and Neuer showered with praise. The 22-year-old likes to lead, said Kahn, is loud and very present – the boss he is looking for.
As such, the Dutchman, who signed for five years, brings in a “tick more stability” and is “exactly this important piece of the mosaic” that you need. Neuer raved about the “charisma” of his new front man and compared him to the former defense chief David Alaba, whom Bayern sorely miss.
“Don’t think about departures in the now overstaffed defense at the moment,” said Kahn. After all, there is “nothing better than having flexible players”. Whether in front or behind.
