Coach: Alaba has fitted in superbly

David Alaba is a balanced, unemotional and quiet character, and calmness personified – at least when he is speaking to the media. On the field of play, the Austrian youngster is transformed into a fizzing bundle of energy, as he lets his boots do the talking, to use the footballing proverb. And at the present time, he is strutting his stuff in defensive midfield, standing in for injury victim Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Somewhat over a week ago, Schweinsteiger hobbled from the field after 17 minutes of the cup clash in Stuttgart with the score still goalless. Boss Jupp Heynckes turned to Alaba in his hour of need. David teamed up with Luiz Gustavo in the midfield holding positions, and FCB went on to record a comfortable 2-0 victory. The same duo masterminded an equally impressive victory by the same score in the Bundesliga meeting with Kaiserslautern.