FCB - Pre-season schedule 2008/09

[RunX]

Good win for us !
First half was great for us ... i hoped to see that on the second half but it doesnt happen .. we were great in offense .. some mistakes on defense ..
Klose was Good .. Podolski was great ..

Good Win
Next : Inter

[Trim]

Our best players were Zé Roberto and Podolski.

[Poldi]

I am happy to see Podolski scoring hat-trick! thanks god that he havent move this summer!

[GhostFromAbyss]

Hope Podolski will show his best. Good game.

[Trim]

Podolski was named Man of the Match officially, and they gave him a cheque of 3,000 euros.

[Vargas_4]

Any highlights?

[YaFCBoy]

Originally Posted by Vargas_4

Any highlights?

I'd like to see some as well considering the match took place at 3 in the morning for me.

Good to heard Podolski getting at hat-trick.

From what you've said Trim, it seems pretty obvious why we didn't play as well in the second half. Klinsmann brought in a bunch of reserves. Of course they're not going to play as well as a team than the starting XI. So you can't be too bothered...

Regardless, glad to see we've FINALLY won (not that it truly matters), but its nice to have a W going into the match with Inter.
So far we've gotten better each game.

[Trim]

VIDEO/ Match highlights:

TalkSoccer Media Player

[Munchen Minded]

If we can play like this against Inter, then we should have no problem. It will also silence the doubters, as this game should have done. I notice the media is quick to report when Bayern lose or draw, like the last 2 games, but slow to report wins for Bayern. I guess Bayern are expected to win, and its no story or fun to see them winning for many out there.

Also, the team looked really sharp this game, expecially the first half. Of course we tired in the second due to the grueling pre-season -- but I thought Rensing did well throughout, those 2 goals weren't really his fault, but more a fault of the defense in front of him -- he still was saving shots up until the end.

Also, Klinsmann looks to be making an impression on the team. At one point I was a doubter of Klinsmann, but I am seeing what a good job he is doing -- how serious he is taking his job, how well he prepares, and how understanding he really is!!!

Excellent job to Bayern!!! Thanks for silencing the doubters including me!

[__-SNAKE-__]

The lads had so much confidence in the 1st half. Poldi is back to his best it seems. In the 2nd half too much loose marking, Rensing couldnt do anythin about them.He did get a touch in the second goal though.

[vampyrian]

I'm more happy for Klose than Podolski. I was certain Podolski would score, but Klose... every goal he scores makes me feel excellent. Hopefully he'll recover the scoring form he had at the beginning of last season soon.

And WOW! Just saw the video, some impressive moves there by Bayern! AWESOME! BRING ON INTER!:P

[Tomori]

Podolski showing some awesome left shots.

I see van Bommel is captain again, why?

[RunX]

Podolski showing some awesome left shots.

I see van Bommel is captain again, why?

Klinsmann said that for the pre-season matches Van Bommel will be captain ..
we dont know yet if he will be captain after the pre-season .

[Vargas_4]

Bayern’s trip to Japan began and ended with cakes, the first marking Jürgen Klinsmann’s 44th birthday, the second Bastian Schweinsteiger’s 24th two days later. “Happy Birthday“ rang out of the breakfast room PA system as the entire FCB delegation lined up to wish Schweini all the best. Schweinsteiger was not the only man in a good mood when the party set off for the airport a little later, as the club will feel this year’s visit to the Far East has been well worth the effort.

“I think the overall impression left behind by FC Bayern has been extremely positive,” Klinsmann summarised. “It wasn’t that stressful,” felt Uli Hoeneß, explicitly praising “the fine hotel“ and Lufthansa’s excellent service for minimising the effects of jetlag and the unfamiliar climate. Klinsmann had nothing but encouraging words for “Japanese hospitality“ after the perfectly organised trip.

Compliments to the players

The coach also paid tribute to his players. “The way they’ve presented themselves, from the kids’ tournament, in training and at the match, has been fantastic,” Klinsmann declared. The stars came across as open and fan-friendly, fulfilling countless requests for autographs. “There were always loads of fans at the airport and the hotel,” reported Lukas Podolski.

Munich’s 4-2 victory over partner club Urawa Red Diamonds at the Saitama Soccer Stadium on Thursday also earned FCB a deal of credit. “The game was obviously the highlight,” said Klinsmann, visibly pleased with his team’s best pre-season outing so far.

Klinsmann’s signature

Klinsmann’s trademark methods and preferences began to emerge for the first time in his new charges’ style of play. “Especially in the first half, we succeeded in keeping the tempo high, letting the ball do the work, and creating chances,” the coach analysed. “We came to Japan aiming to gain useful insights, and that’s been very positive.“

Uli Hoeneß also spoke of “a very successful trip. It’s been a confidence-booster, and a great advertisement for German football and Bayern Munich. You can’t ask for more than that,” the general manager reasoned. “The trip has earned Bayern a lot of affection in Japan,” Podolski argued. Even before the 12-hour flight touched down in Munich on Friday evening, the club’s thoughts were on the next visit to Japan. “We hope we’re able to come back again soon,“ said Klinsmann.

Bayern gain friends and useful insights

[Vargas_4]

Thursday’s 4-2 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds secured Bayern the Saitama City Cup 2008, the first trophy of the Jürgen Klinsmann era. Perhaps even more meaningful for the new head coach was the appearance of Guido Buchwald in front of him on the Saitama stadium turf. The 1990 World Cup winners, friends for many years now, embraced warmly and later spent a lengthy period deep in conversation over dinner. Buchwald almost certainly agreed with the assessment Klinsmann gave fcbayern.de at the final whistle: “For a friendly, it was a great game.“

Klinsmann’s signature high-tempo passing and aggressive attacking philosophy was clearly on display in the first period. “Certain aspects of the attacking moves“ were directly attributable to Klinsmann, Buchwald reasoned. The team “passed extremely well,” continued the former Urawa Red Diamonds supremo. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was equally satisfied: “That was definitely our best pre-season performance.“

Always comfortable

After weary displays in Cologne and Dortmund, Munich looked a great deal more sprightly against the current Asian Champions League holders, all the more impressive given the Tokyo outfit are at the midpoint of their domestic season. With ten days to go until their first competitive fixture, Bayern are beginning to find their form. “The first half was well worth watching,” commented Klinsmann, “there were some good moves, tactically we kept it tight, and our understanding was good. It was a step forward.“

Miroslav Klose (16), Bastian Schweinsteiger (21) and Lukas Podolski (43) fired the German double winners into a deserved 3-0 half-time lead. “The tempo we maintained in the first half hardly allowed Urawa a look-in,” remarked Klinsmann. FCB made a number of changes at the break and Urawa finally made an impact, scoring consolation goals through Tsukasa Umesaki (57) and Yuki Abe (80). However, Podolski’s 63rd-minute strike for Bayern’s fourth meant the victory was never in doubt.

Let the ball do the work

“We played refreshingly good football,” Uli Hoeneß enthused. The players at least partially translated Klinsmann’s practice ground tactics into action. “We’ve trained to let the ball do the work. That’s becoming part of the player’s instinctive thoughts,” the coach commented.

The team also appears to be taking on board Klinsmann’s desire for broad positional flexibility. Whereas two holding midfielders appeared in Cologne, Thursday’s formation featured a diamond, but the transition was seamless. “We can play 4-4-2 with two lines of four or with a midfield diamond, but we’re also capable of playing 3-5-2,” the coach explained.

Much work ahead

However, the meeting with the Red Diamonds was just a start. Klinsmann feels his men will still be settling down until “late August, early September. We have a great deal of work still to do. We’ve not even started with set plays and certain moves which I want the players to memorise by heart.” Nevertheless, in the Land of the Rising Sun, the new Bayern provided plenty of rays of light.

Bayern begin to find form on Japan trip