FCB stars report back for training

“Ah! Perfect!” declared fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura as he stepped out of the Säbener Strasse dressing room at shortly before 11 am on Wednesday: the temperature was 27 degrees Celsius, the skies were blue, and the turf a lustrous green, meaning conditions were perfect as the FC Bayern stars resumed training in preparation for the new season.

Captain Philipp Lahm and boss Pep Guardiola then led the players and coaching staff out onto the practice ground and the Reds were back at work, 38 days after the joyous championship celebrations and 44 days prior to the Bundesliga restart fixture at home to Hamburger SV on 14 August.

“We’ve had more than five weeks off and that’s plenty of time to recover. We get back to work right away,” Lahm informed fcbayern.de, “it’s great to see all the lads again.” Watched by a crowd of around 700, Guardiola took charge of a total of 14 senior professionals plus reserve goalkeeper Ivan Lucic. The group included Julian Green, back at the club after a loan spell in Hamburg, and new backup keeper Sven Ulreich.

Arjen Robben, who missed the run-in to the end of last season with injury, also rejoined his team-mates for the session. “It’s been a long time without football for me due to the injury,” said the man voted Bayern Player of the Season for 2014/15. “I’ve recovered well on holiday and had plenty of time with my family. I enjoyed it, but I trained as well so I wouldn’t have to build it all up again from nothing. I’m delighted we’re starting up again now and I can go for it again.”