Bayern had already got a taste of the heat they can expect during the first stage of the Audi Summer Tour 2017 on their day of arrival. Then on Tuesday morning, it was down to work! At 11am local time Carlo Ancelotti put his players through a sweaty training session on the outside pitch next to the Shanghai Stadium, which was only slightly shaded by the city’s high-rise buildings.
A light warm-up with hurdles and gentle passing exercises was followed by a drinks break. More passing exercises, this time a bit quicker, and then another drinks break. The coaching and support team were paying particular attention to liquid intake, which will be vital on these hot days. It was 35 degrees with 80% humidity this morning, and for the players that means they must take on an extra two litres of fluid per training session!
Water was wheeled around in crates, not just for the players but also the handful of spectators who were allowed to attend the closed training session and who were drenched as if they’d just walked through a downpour. After an hour and a few set-pieces to finish with, the first session of the day was done. And how was it? “Hot!” answered David Alaba bluntly.
It’s a busy day for Bayern. At 16:30 local time (10:30 CEST) there’ll be a press conference with Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Müller, followed by the final training session – this time in the Shanghai Stadium – ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against Arsenal. There are also some marketing activities on the programme for this evening, so it’s staying hot in Shanghai!