Time and time again, the league fixture immediately following a two-week international break has proved a struggle for the leading teams all over Europe. On this occasion, Pep Guardiola took charge of just four of his senior professionals (Tom Starke, Jan Kirchhoff, Rafinha and Diego Contento) in daily training at Bayern, with all the rest on their travels around the world. Come Thursday and the coach had only two days to prepare his team for the home meeting with Hannover 96. It is not much time, but it can be no excuse. Victory is a must, as Arjen Robben and Daniel van Buyten both confirmed.
“It has to be full power from the very first minute. We have to make an immediate switch from internationals to the Bundesliga," Robben said at the daily press conference. There can be no repeat of the minor slip-up in the 1-1 draw away to Freiburg, because league leaders Dortmund are threatening to open a gap. “We have to battle and catch up with them as quickly as possible," added Van Buyten.
The Dutch-Belgian duo should be fit and raring to go for the clash with the Lower Saxony visitors, as both were already back in Munich last weekend. Robben has been doing his homework on Hannover, who have three wins from four matches and are only a place behind FCB in the table. “We have to be ready for them and not allow them to get at us on the break, where they’re extremely good," the Dutch winger explained.
However, Arjen continued, the decisive factor will be Bayern imposing themselves on the match. “It's just like last season," he pointed out, “we'll be playing two games a week and it's tough, but I think we're on the right track." Team mate Van Buyten issued an appeal to the home crowd: “I hope they'll all get right behind us again."
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