Some five weeks ago, Jupp Heynckes started out on pre-season with just 12 players. The squad has been back to full strength for three weeks now, and the Bundesliga restart fixture is not for another two weeks, so Bayern are still in the thick of their summer programme. However, matters turn serious on Sunday in the first meaningful test of the new season, with a trophy at stake against the reigning German champions.
“On the one hand it's still pre-season, but on the other, it will also tell us where we stand. It's a very welcome opportunity to measure our progress at an extremely high level," commented Heynckes in the build-up to the DFL Supercup against Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz Arena on Sunday evening. “It's a very good test for us and we'll give it our best shot," promised Manuel Neuer. Heynckes is expecting his men to be “totally motivated. We're taking the game very seriously and we’ll do everything we can to win." However, regardless of the outcome, it is still ‘only’ a pre-season warm-up.
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