Louis van Gaal, Andries Jonker (assistant coach), Hermann Gerland (assistant coach), Walter Junghans (goalkeeping coach), Jos van Dijk (training coordinator), Max Reckers (video analysis) and the FCB physiotherapists all gathered as a group for the first time on Tuesday morning. The head coach welcomed his team to the new campaign, the forthcoming pre-season period, and the first full working day of the new term.
That officially starts some 24 hours later, when Van Gaal and his staff greet the players on their return to the Säbener Strasse. The first training session of the 2009-10 season takes place at 10.30 am on Wednesday morning.
The new head coach will supervise almost the entire squad. Confed Cup participants Lucio and Luca Toni are still on leave, but the six new signings - Mario Gomez, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Ivica Olic, Danijel Pranjic, Edson Braafheid and Alexander Baumjohann – and Andreas Görlitz, who returns from a loan spell, will all be there.
Cameras galore
The players will soon detect a few changes under their new boss. On Van Gaal's orders, a number of cameras have been installed at strategic points around the two senior training pitches, recording the players' movement and tactical decisions for later analysis. The players will also wear special belts across their chests while working out. Monitors in the belts record important information to help plan future training programmes.
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