Bayern have set up their base in Philadelphia for the Audi Summer Tour USA 2018, and the location could not be better for pre-season preparation. The metropolis in the east of the USA was home to the legendary movie character Rocky Balboa, who relentlessly sprinted up the stairs to the Philadelphia Museum of Arts to get fit for his fights.
Niko Kovac spared his men the countless steps in the first training session on Monday evening. Instead, they worked out at Lincoln Financial Field, home to reigning Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles. After an eight-and-a-half-hour flight Arjen Robben & Co completed mobility, running and passing drills to shake off the weariness. The Bavarians will increase the workload over the next few days. "In the US you can train just as well as at home," Kovac declared.
But that is not the only reason why Philadelphia is ideal as the first destination of this year's tour. Second only to Chicago, the most German immigrants live in the sixth most populous city in the States, and they will surely be looking forward to the International Champions Cup match against Juventus on 25 July. FCB will subsequently travel to Miami, where they take on Manchester City on 28 July.
Besides the two friendlies, Niko Kovac has scheduled a total of nine training sessions in the US. "We'll train so that the lads know they've been training," the Croat affirmed. Bayern aim to be top fit when they return to Munich on 30 July. They will complete the final phase of pre-season in Bavaria before crossing swords with Eintracht Frankfurt in the first competitive fixture this season, the Supercup final on 12 August.
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