FCB - General Talk/News

[RunX]

Aha ... OK .. Thx Trim

[Oliver_Kahn]

A lot has changed at FC Bayern since Jürgen Klinsmann took over.


The club's training facilities have been rebuilt, the coaching staff expanded and the players are around for eight hours each day.

But just two new players were signed: Tim Borowski and goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt. Klinsmann banks on the team that won the double last season.

That doesn't mean that the regular players are assured of their starting places, however. Several young guns are out to win a regular place in the starting eleven.

bundesliga.de takes a close look at four of them: Andreas Ottl, Toni Kroos, Jose Ernesto Sosa and Breno.

Andreas Ottl

Andreas Ottl came through the ranks at Bayern and joined the first team in July 2005. He played eight matches in his first season and even scored the title-clinching goal for Bayern in the 1-1 draw against Kaiserslautern. 24 games followed in the 2006/07 season, but only 19 last term. Ottl is out to change that: "I'm not satisfied with coming from the bench. I will work hard in training and give everything."

Toni Kroos

A lot of experts see Kroos as FC Bayern's greatest prospect. He joined the club from Hansa Rostock in 2006. The talented playmaker was promoted to the first team in 2007 and was voted best player of the U-17 World Cup. He made his Bundesliga debut against Cottbus on September 26th, 2007, and 18 minutes were enough for him to set up two goals. Some way to start your Bundesliga career at just 17 years, eight months and 22 days! "My target has to be making more appearances, that's only logical. I haven't arrived where I want to be yet. I want to become a first team regular at Bayern in the near future. It's very competitive here and it won't be easy, but I'm convinced I'm capable of playing plenty of games, certainly in terms of footballing ability", Kroos said ahead of this season.

Jose Ernesto Sosa

Sosa joined Bayern from Estudiantes de la Plata in 2007. The 23-year-old reminds sporting director Uli Hoeneß of Sebastian Deisler, but the "little prince" (his nickname) wasn't that convincing in his 25 appearances last season. His best contribution was setting up Luca Toni for the last-gasp equaliser at Getafe in the UEFA Cup. The Argentine now wants to show more of that this season, but he won't be around at the start of the season - Sosa is part of the Brazilian squad at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Breno

Breno Vinicius Rodrigues Borges joined Bayern from FC Sao Paulo during the last winter break. "He is good in the air, quick and can play with both feet", former Bayern striker Giovane Elber rings the praises. Breno has made just two competitive matches for Bayern so far, but he is seen as Lucio's long-term replacement by many. "I'm convinced he will be a great player, to the delight of Bayern", departed coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said. Just like Sosa, Breno won't be around when Bayern kick off the season. The 18-year-old will captain Brazil at the Olympics in Beijing.

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

[Oliver_Kahn]

Jürgen Klinsmann is not a fan of coaching from the touchline. The new Bayern boss likes to be in the thick of the action, conveying his thoughts and instructions directly to his players. From behind the back four, sometimes in the midfield holding areas, or occasionally out on the wing, Klinsmann issues orders, indicates better zonal positioning, cajoles and encourages. And if he feels it necessary, he will break off the play and point out errors.

That at least was the case in last Saturday’s 45-minute warm-up match between the seniors and the reserves, when Klinsmann covered almost as much ground as his players. The new coach told his first news conference that he wants his men to dominate and dictate matches, but that is merely the briefest of summaries of a far more complex and multi-layered strategy.

Playing to individual strengths

“I do think it’s important for us to define a philosophy for Bayern,” the 43-year-old mused in conversation with fcbayern.de. That extends beyond the field of play to incorporate wider societal dimensions, he feels: “The history of the club, the personalities of the players who shaped Bayern, the culture here in Munich, the region and Bavaria. What’s the defining characteristic of the folk here? Is it innovation, is it the courage to take risks, is it domination, is it the saying: Mia san mia (We are who we are)?“

Naturally, much is dictated by the qualities of the players at the club. “The system has to suit the players, they have to feel comfortable with it,” Klinsmann insisted. Individual ability will play a crucial role. “Our job is to promote each individual’s particular strengths, combining these strengths in a jigsaw, so each goes out there and shows what he can do, perhaps going on to settle the outcome with one piece of individual brilliance.“

The means to an end

Klinsmann is fundamentally convinced “that we have the squad to play attacking, authoritative football.“ Indeed, Bayern’s tactics will almost inevitably call for authority and control, not only in home Bundesliga fixtures but almost always away as well, as experience shows most opponents opting for ultra-defensive strategies.

Klinsmann hopes to prepare his team perfectly for exactly these situations: “Once we’ve sat with the players in a couple of weeks and defined our philosophy, we’ll direct our training efforts directly at it.“ The players have already begun trying out complex short passing and moving exercises in strictly confined spaces.

No change against top teams

Klinsmann wants his men to impose their style of play on higher-quality as well as more limited opposing teams: “We don’t look to anyone else for inspiration. We need a mental attitude which says: our opponents will be forced to adapt to our style of play. We refuse to sit back and let them impose their style on us.”

An essential component in the plan is retaining possession, and regaining it quickly when the ball is lost. “We need to develop the habit of winning the ball back where we lost it. We don’t want to be forced on the defensive and have to reorganise.“ That will entail early pressing all over the field by every member of the team: “If our opponents are trying to construct a move down one flank, we want to try and close them down right there and make it as tight as possible for them.“

Risk of counter-attacks

To help his men in this respect, Klinsmann has had a new line marked on the training pitch, dissecting the field of play longwise. The coach reckons the obvious danger of his side being caught on the break is a risk worth taking. “There are fewer and fewer defenders capably of suddenly switching the play the way Andy Brehme used to do. If we come up against one, we’ll have to chase back after them.“

Maintaining this aggressive style of play for an entire match will naturally require total concentration and superb conditioning. The expanded coaching staff is currently working with the stars on the basics of fitness, tactics, technique and mental strength. “We’re in a position to work with every player, every day, and come up with very deep analyses,” Klinsmann concluded.

Klinsmann’s philosophy: Attack, aggression, action and authority

[Oliver_Kahn]

18-year-old Bayern youth Thomas Müller was busily celebrating the end of his school examinations, when his mobile phone rang. “I didn’t answer. When I listened to my voicemail, it was Jürgen Klinsmann,” Müller recalled, as he learnt he was to train with the senior squad in the initial pre-season phase. “I was totally thrilled.“

Mehmet Ekici, Müller’s similarly aged team-mate in the FCB reserves under seasoned coach Hermann Gerland, has also thoroughly enjoyed his first taste of the big time. “It feels fantastic and it’s great fun,” remarked Ekici, still eligible to appear for the U-19 youths but also a member of the third division reserves squad.

Amazing experience

“They’re both incredibly talented, that I have to say,” the new head coach declared admiringly. The higher pace and correspondingly greater physical demands meant “they needed a little while to acclimatise,” Klinsmann observed, “but I’m really impressed at how a couple of 18-year-old lads have fitted in so well.”

“The passing is a lot faster. You have a lot more time in the youths, but you have to do everything lightning fast here,” Müller commented, comparing life in the reserves with the seniors. “But the whole thing is a lot more professional. The coaching staff is large enough to look after us as individuals,” he continued, describing his spell with the superstars as “an amazing experience, even if only to see their working conditions.”

Catching the eye

The pair are beneficiaries of the fact that only 12 first-teamers were available for the first week of training. “There are always opportunities when some of my players are absent,” commented Klinsmann, “I sought out Hermann Gerland right at the start and asked him who he could make available.”

Ekici caught the eye in a third division south meeting with KSC II back in May, Klinsmann reported, while Müller was recommended by Gerland and youth coach Björn Andersson. “One of our basic principles is to give our own youth players a chance,” Klinsmann explained.

First steps

“We have some influence on the reserve team, and we can temporarily promote a player any time we want. We can show the U-19s what comes next,” Klinsmann continued. Müller and Ekici have made “the first small step,” but they are unlikely to be the last. “We can show them how it could look in the future.“

Once all the official senior squad members are back from vacation, Müller and Ekici will play and train under Gerland most of the time. The youngsters were always aware of that fact, but both are determined to make an impression in the time available. “I need to become physically stronger and improve my fitness,” Ekici commented, “but I reckon I can hold my own in terms of footballing ability.“

[Oliver_Kahn]

Ten days into pre-season, Jürgen Klinsmann’s squad regained three of its experienced members when Martin Demichelis, Lucio and Willy Sagnol returned to the Säbener Strasse from vacation on Wednesday morning. Fourteen of the 23 first-team squad are now back in Munich, with the remaining nine set to report for duty next week.

Cloudy, wet weather greeted the international trio on a day featuring a packed schedule. Oliver Schmidtlein and his fitness team were first up to the plate, supervising the Argentine, the Brazilian and the Frenchman through a standard test to be taken by all the players after vacation, generating benchmark scores for flexibility, co-ordination and stability. Demichelis, Lucio and Sagnol then joined fitness specialist Marcelo Martins for a few stamina-building laps of the training ground.

Sprints replaced by passing

The rest of the squad performed exercises designed to boost power. Lower leg strength and explosivity were measured with the help of a springboard, pull- and push-ups tested upper body strength, while further exercises determined the stars’ poise and balance.

A series of sprints featuring on the original schedule was cancelled due to the rain. The players worked instead on passing and movement, with games of six-against-three in small zones marked out on the training pitch. The sprints have been rescheduled for Thursday.

Demichelis, Lucio and Sagnol back in Munich

[Oliver_Kahn]

The 4-5-1 formation is flavour of the month right now. European champions Spain, Germany from the Euro 2008 quarter-finals onwards and 2006 World Cup finalists France and Italy are among the most high-profile practitioners at the present time, but Jürgen Klinsmann has no intention of following the fashion at Bayern.

“I’m no friend of 4-5-1. It’s a brutal job for a striker, going it alone up front against four defenders. You run the risk of your striker suffering burn-out over a longer period of time,” Klinsmann declared on Thursday. The new head coach is a strong proponent of 4-4-2: “A lot of clubs are intensely jealous of us because we have three top strikers. I’m not about to leave two of them on the bench.”

Klinsmann sees Poldi as central striker

Klinsmann emphasised his intention not simply to rely on last term’s leading scorer Luca Toni and seasoned Germany international Miroslav Klose, but to give a far greater role to Lukas Podolski as well. “I helped him a lot when I was in charge of the national team, and I know him well as a character and a sportsman. I know how to deal with him, and I think we’ll get a great deal out of him in the future,” the 43-year-old remarked.

In contrast to current Germany boss Joachim Löw, Klinsmann is unlikely to deploy Poldi on the left of midfield. “I don’t regard Lukas as a wide player, but as a central striker, probably playing off a target man, but definitely in the centre. He scores his goals in and around the box, not from the left wing.”

No further squad changes

Podolski was still developing as a player, Klinsmann argued, “and I’m determined to bring him up to the next level.” The former world-class striker thus put an end to speculation regarding the 23-year-old’s future. “Lukas has two years to go on his contract with us, so there are no questions to be answered. I’ll go to great lengths to make sure Lukas feels happy at Bayern,” Klinsmann declared.

The Bayern coach also announced that the club would contest the coming season “with the squad as it stands today. Our plans are based on the players we have now, and we’re happy with this squad. We have fantastic quality, and in numerical terms, almost too many players.” However, Klinsmann did conclude with a proviso: “If something suddenly came up, which might lead to internal discussions with the board, we’d go ahead and do it.”

Klinsmann gives full backing to Podolski

[Vargas_4]

Really glad to hear this.

Hope everything goes smoothly.

[RunX]

Poldi Can Play LWM/LM But His Favorite I THINK CF
4-5-1 Formation We Used To Watch It In Hard And Important Games IN EURO
AND IN THE CL ..

[BlackNess]

Originally Posted by MiRo^KloSe

Poldi Can Play LWM/LM But His Favorite I THINK CF
4-5-1 Formation We Used To Watch It In Hard And Important Games IN EURO
AND IN THE CL ..

You don't think you play fifa, Podolski can't be alone up front not doubt about this, now The Bayern system next season will decide the position that Podolski is gonna play in, his favorite is bullshit.

[RunX]

Blackness dude ....
bayern system and tactics will change .. klinsi said the podolski role is CF his favorite role :@
WTF

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Change to routine
Coach set to axe pre-match hotel retreats

The ritual which has seen Bayern traditionally spend the night before home matches at a hotel on the outskirts of Munich is to end with the start of the new season, Jürgen Klinsmann announced on Thursday. “There’s no reason to head for a hotel before home games just to kill time. Nothing else of substance happens there,” the Bayern coach told the daily news conference.

The breach would be filled by the new performance centre at the Säbener Strasse. “Our new facility gives us the chance to introduce a completely new routine,” Klinsmann said. Ahead of matches at the customary kick-off time on a Saturday, the 43-year-old will as normal summon his squad for final training at the club’s headquarters late on Friday afternoon.

Better preparation

“The players will then receive treatment and massage, then there’ll be an evening meal and perhaps a team talk.” The players will then be released to go home. “I think that’ll really suit the players. After all, you always sleep better in your own bed at home,” Klinsmann remarked.

The coach and the stars will meet again for a final pre-match session at ten or ten-thirty on matchday. “There’ll be a light warm-up, before we enjoy the privilege of a lunch devised by [star chef] Alfons Schuhbeck. [Bus driver] Sandra will then pick us up at half-past one and we’ll drive over to the stadium.”

Coach set to axe pre-match hotel retreats

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Weary but upbeat
Pre-season fun factor meets with approval

Sunday’s 7-1 victory in Lippstadt marked a successful end to Jürgen Klinsmann’s second week as Bayern head coach. In the 14 days since the former world-class striker assumed the Munich helm, the players have completed two gruelling training sessions practically every single day. The preparatory phase for the new campaign is making heavy demands on the squad, but the stars are still in overwhelmingly upbeat spirits.

“I have to say that this is the most enjoyable pre-season of my career so far,” commented Christian Lell. “Pre-season is obviously hard work, but it’s unbelievably good fun. And the regeneration techniques are very, very good – like the ice baths and recovery drinks. We’re all fired up, we all want to win things.”

The right balance

Daniel van Buyten also remarked on “a little muscle tiredness, but that’s completely normal at the start. You arrive at a point where your body feels a bit lethargic." However, the defender reckons the head coach has struck exactly the right balance: “I don’t think we’re too tired, nor are we too fresh – we’re at exactly the right point.”

Kahn successor Michael Rensing definitely feels “very comfortable with the new performance centre and the new coach." The Bayern number one keeper praised a change in the approach on the training ground: “We keepers weren’t as involved in the skills exercises or the functional training in the past, but now I’m involved in everything. The way keepers play now brings a new set of demands, and I think I can only get better.”

Klinsmann’s innovative methods were already bearing fruit, van Buyten reported: “We’re noticing how we’re improving and finding our rhythm.” Klinsmann himself was satisfied with the opening warm-up fixture in Lippstadt: “It was a great game."

Pre-season fun factor meets with approval

[Vargas_4]

Loyal Bayern fans can look forward to a real highlight on Tuesday 22 July. Starting at 3.30 pm, and for the first time ever in pre-season, Jürgen Klinsmann will conduct an open training session with the full senior squad at the Allianz Arena.

In another premiere, Bayern will also present their new away kit, to be unveiled by partner adidas on the same day. Stadium presenter Stephan Lehmann will provide commentary and introduce the day's programme.

Admission is, of course, free. The catering kiosks and World of Brands shopping centre will also be open. Free parking is available all day in parking lot P1 and the central bus parking area. Bayern look forward to seeing as many fans as possible at the Allianz Arena!

Fans invited to open session at the Allianz Arena