Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose, say the French: The more things change, the more they stay the same. In fact, that’s not really true when it comes to caretaker boss Jupp Heynckes, who has instituted a number of changes around the first-team set-up since taking over from Jürgen Klinsmann on Tuesday – although naturally enough, there are consistent elements too, as summarised here by fcbayern.de.
Changes:
Schedule
On both Tuesday and Wednesday, Heynckes ordered the squad in twice for training. The players and coaching staff sat down to a communal lunch following the morning session, after which the players were free to go home if they so wished. The players are now expected to report to the performance centre 30 minutes before each session. Klinsmann required attendance an hour in advance.
Formation
The indications from the first workouts under Heynckes suggest the caretaker boss is set to alter Bayern’s formation and tactics. First, one of the two holding midfielders will operate in a much more attacking role. “If we play with two defensive midfielders, we’re not making the most of what we have in that area. We have players who can operate behind the front men: Schweinsteiger, Sosa, Zé Roberto, Altintop,” Heynckes told kicker magazine. The 63-year-old is also set to revert to a two-man forward line: “That’s how Bayern have played for decades. I’ll try and restore it for Saturday.”
Pre-match retreat
Jürgen Klinsmann preferred to quarter the squad in city centre hotels for the night before home games. By contrast, Heynckes favours the club’s long-term practice of lodging in the suburbs or just outside the city itself.
Club doctor
Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt will return as chief medical officer for the matchday when Bayern entertain Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Topics of this article