Created on 04-01-2009 at 00:00 AM
Uli Hoeneß was in a good mood on Sunday morning. A handful of German holidaymakers who had snuck in to observe a training session theoretically not open to the public received a friendly grin, before the general manager shook Jürgen Klinsmann and his coaching staff warmly by the hand. Hoeneß was clearly at one with the world – and his positive disposition improved even further a couple of minutes later when a second training group, comprising the club's South American contingent, came over to greet him. Each was clasped by the hand and welcomed to Dubai.
Breno, Lucio, Zé Roberto, Martin Demichelis and Jose Sosa had all arrived in the Emirate the previous evening after a 15-hour flight, bringing the squad for the winter training camp close to full strength. Lukas Podolski (sinusitis) is due to fly on Monday after a final check with the doc, ready to start work on Tuesday. The only remaining absentee will then be Willy Sagnol, whose persistent Achilles problems mean he cannot even jog without feeling pain.