+++ UPDATE +++
After permission to take off on Friday night was denied, the FC Bayern party left for the Club World Cup in Doha early on Saturday morning with a delay of more than seven hours.
The first trophy opportunity in this still-young calendar year is drawing ever closer. At the FIFA Club World Cup, FC Bayern will be looking to clinch their sixth title within the space of 12 months. Straight after beating Hertha BSC 1-0 away, the reigning Champions League winners set off for Qatar, where FCB will face Al Ahly SC (CAF Champions League winners, of Egypt) in the semi-finals on 8 February. "We're proud to be part of the tournament. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we'll give everything to bring this title home," said Hasan Salihamidžić.
A second time for four players
In 2013, Bayern won the coveted trophy in Morocco. Four players playing then will be in Qatar with Bayern this time round.
Müller: We want to be crowned
A total of 22 players boarded the flight, operated by Bayern's partner Qatar Airways. On board are Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, Jérôme Boateng and David Alaba, who could claim the title for a second time after winning it in 2013. "Winning the Club World Cup in 2013 was a great experience. We've now earned the right to try and take it again as Champions League winners, and to write history with this title. We want to seize this opportunity. For the club, for ourselves - and last but not least for our fans!" Neuer was quoted as saying in the January issue of members' magazine "51". Team-mate Müller was also full of anticipation after the 1-0 win in Berlin on Friday evening: "We've now gone five wins on the bounce and are looking forward to the tournament. It's the crowning glory after the Champions League. We want to be crowned champions."
For midfielder Joshua Kimmich, on the other hand, it is his first appearance in the competition: "I'm already really excited about the Club World Cup. We're all fired up to win it," said the 25-year-old. "For me it's a very special title because you don't always have the chance to play for it. You have to win the Champions League first. We want to take the chance and bring home our sixth title in a year."
A look at the squad
This is the FC Bayern squad for the FIFA Club World Cup: David Alaba, Jérôme Boateng, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Kingsley Coman, Douglas Costa, Tiago Dantas, Serge Gnabry, Lucas Hernández, Ron-Thorben Hoffmann, Joshua Kimmich, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala, Manuel Neuer, Benjamin Pavard, Marc Roca, Leroy Sané, Bouna Sarr, Lukas Schneller, Niklas Süle, Corentin Tolisso.
Here's all the info on the Club World Cup:
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