FC Bayern against Manchester City: what sounds like a mouth-watering Champions League encounter is a friendly in mid-July, when the teams are in the middle of pre-season preparation and a number of pros are still on holiday after the Euro. But even if the significance of the meeting is diminished, the fans have reason to look forward to a highlight! Carlo Ancelotti makes his debut at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday at 20.30 CET, and he takes on none other than his predecessor Pep Guardiola.
“I have a very good relationship with Pep,” Ancelotti commented after Friday's training session at the Säbener Strasse: “He did an outstanding job here.” Ancelotti is looking forward to meeting Guardiola on Wednesday, but he does not need the Catalan's expertise with regard to FC Bayern. “I already know my team very well. Every coach has his own style. I'll try to introduce my ideas, but Pep has shaped FC Bayern's style of play of course.”
Costa out for three more weeks
The meeting between Ancelotti and Guardiola is at the centre of attention, but the two coaches focus on other things. “We want to win and turn in a good display,” explained Ancelotti: “Every friendly is important to us, but tomorrow's match is even more important since it's our first home match.” Like in Lippstadt, the players will not play the full 90 minutes against Man City, but that is “perfectly normal” at this point of the summer pre-season period, according to Ancelotti.
The Italian is “unhappy” about Arjen Robben's injury, “but I hope he'll be fit for the start of the season.” This also holds true for Douglas Costa, who will be sidelined with a muscle injury for around three weeks before resuming the squad programme. But these problems do not worry the Bayern coach. “We still have enough time, we'll be in form for the start of the season,” said Ancelotti.
Topics of this article