The Bayern faithful at the Säbener Strasse (and online) were impressed. Thursday morning's public training session featured a novelty: the new FC Bayern away kit! “It's very, very classy,” commented Bayern skipper Philipp Lahm, impressed by the “very lightweight” jersey. Holger Badstuber added: “They keep improving the details.”

The Bayern pros profited from the premium-quality jersey as the fourth day of pre-season was a sweat-laden affair. The focus was on work on the ball, but the Bavarians also had to be mentally ready, as Lahm revealed after the session. “Every coach brings in different exercises, that's perfectly normal. Different positional rondo drills, different passing combinations: those are new impulses which surely won't hurt us. Everyone has to prove himself all over again.”

Badstuber needs 'patience'

Holger Badstuber, who has been troubled by injury for a long time, enjoys the sessions too. “It's fun, there's a plan, you can feel that,” according to the centre-back, who has a “very good impression” of new head coach Carlo Ancelotti: “He's always out for communication, he's close to the team, he radiates calm and experience. He has a certain aura. It helps FC Bayern a lot.” Badstuber called it a day a little earlier than his team-mates, but sounded the all-clear straightaway: “All is fine! It was scheduled. I still need time after resuming the squad programme.”

The Bayern captain has observed Badstuber's progress. “Holger has experienced and achieved so much. He's making a really good impression on me. I hope he remains healthy. He's a fighter,” said Lahm. Badstuber himself is serene and unruffled: “I have to be patient to work my way back, but that's what pre-season is for.”