Gladbach on opening day hasn't always been the best of combinations for Bayern. Take the 1-0 defeat two years ago, for example. Or back in 2001, when the then Champions League holders lost by the same score, albeit away from home. Veteran assistant Hermann Gerland naturally informed new FCB coach Pep Guardiola about the history of the fixture prior to the Spaniard's Bundesliga debut. “Hermann told me Mönchengladbach have been tough opponents for Bayern in recent years - and they were again today," Guardiola said afterwards, breathing a sigh of relief: “So we're satisfied." Everything was fine from a Munich point of view on Friday evening as Guardiola's men opened the 51st Bundesliga season with a 3-1 victory.
“We can be satisfied," agreed Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, “it was a deserved win and that's the most important thing." Results are what matters in the early matches of a new season, continued the FCB chairman. “It brings stability and the team acquires the necessary confidence." Guardiola took a similar view: “We need the first two or three results, to build faith in us and in the coach. Then everyone will be calm."
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