FC Bayern have arrived in Tokyo. The German champions started this year’s Audi Summer Tour in the Japanese capital after a twelve-hour flight. The Reds will continue preparations for the new season here until Sunday before heading on to Singapore. Following an enthusiastic reception from Japanese fans there was a lot to do for the record champions on the first day. fcbayern.com brings you the highlights.
Press conference with Tuchel & Kimmich
Ahead of the first training session, coach Thomas Tuchel and Joshua Kimmich fielded questions from journalists at a press conference. "It was relatively quiet on the plane, everybody tried to use the time to sleep to be able to get started here straightaway," said Joshua Kimmich looking forward to the Audi Football Summit against Manchester City on Wednesday: "I'm looking forward to the game. City are the best team in Europe at the moment. We'll see straightaway where we stand."
First training session in the national stadium
The first training session for Bayern on the Audi Summer Tour was held at the national stadium in Tokyo on Tuesday afternoon local time. The players entered the pitch to an enthusiastic reception from the numerous fans at the ground. After the long journey, Matthijs de Ligt and Co. certainly worked up a sweat with the temperature at 32 degrees. The final pre-match training ahead of the friendly against Manchester City lasted for an hour.
Media reception hosted by Hainer, Mayer, Diederich and Jung
In the evening, president Herbert Heiner, vice-president professor Dieter Meyer plus board members Dr Michael Diederich and Andreas Jung welcomed the media representatives to the Audi Summer capital. "I'm absolutely thrilled by the people and the country. We want to inspire and bring people across the world closer to FC Bayern. That's why we have organised lots of community and cultural activities around the sporting events," said Heiner. "We are happy we are here together and we have an exciting journey ahead of us."
Laimer in Ramen restaurant
Konrad Laimer visited a traditional Ramen restaurant on his first night in the Japanese capital where he enjoyed the local national dish of noodles. For the Austrian new signing it was an absolute highlight right at the start of the Audi Summer Tour: "Now I've had the chance to eat Ramen here and I don't know if it can get any better," said the 26-year-old with a smile on his face. No problem, Konni. It won't be the last highlight of the tour.
Numerous media appointments in the evening
The players answered questions from media representatives from around the world in the evening after training. Jamal Musiala and Matthijs de Ligt each spoke for half an hour with the ten most important Japanese media. Alphonso Davies, Kingsley Coman and newcomer Minjae Kim also gave interviews in small groups to Chinese, US and German media, among others.
Meet & Greet with Pizarro & Élber in FC Bayern pop-up store Shibuya
There was a special event on Tuesday night for Claudio Pizarro and Giovane Élber. The two FCB legends opened the FC Bayern pop-up store Shibuya set up for the Audi Summer Tour. In the city of the Intercontinental Cup win in 2001, Pizarro and Élber talked to Japanese FCB fans at a meet & greet. Anybody in Tokyo can visit the FC Bayern pop-up store Shibuya up to the end of Monday 31 July.
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