FC Bayern are getting down to business on the Audi Summer Tour 2023 in Asia, alternating between intensive training sessions, high-profile friendlies and off-pitch activities, so it's good to have an evening out in between to unwind. That's what happened at the German record champions' traditional Audi Night at Tokyo Bay's Bank30 in on Thursday evening local time.
Hainer: "This evening is a tradition"
After the morning training session and various partner and fan events in the afternoon, the entire FC Bayern delegation was present at the get-together. FCB president Herbert Hainer welcomed the guests: "This evening is a tradition wherever we go on the Summer Tour. So far we have had many wonderful experiences. The motto of this year's Audi Summer Tour is 'A way to inspire'. Audi and FC Bayern are two global players who have one goal: Living progress. We want to share our values - as one family, all over the world. We achieve this by coming together - with all of you! Arigato gozeimasu for being here."
Herbert Hainer: "This evening is a tradition wherever we are on the Summer Tour. So far we have had many wonderful experiences."
Gnabry: "I like the country and the people"
The evening kicked off with a Japanese drum ceremony and the introduction of the team on stage, after which a meal was shared by all those present before Serge Gnabry & Co. took questions in a Q&A session. Joshua Kimmich said on stage that he was "very happy with the exhausting programme" and Gnabry later added: "I like the country and the people. Japan and Tokyo have always been on my travel list anyway. The training workload is high and we had to get used to the high temperatures first."
Serge Gnabry: "I like the country and the people. Japan and Tokyo have always been on my travel list anyway. The training workload is high and we had to get used to the high temperatures first."
The official part of the event ended as it had begun - with dancing, this time with a break-dance routine instead of a drum session. For the players, it's now a matter of resting briefly for the coming training days and then taking this momentum with them into the second Asian friendly against Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday (12:00 CEST) and the second stop on the tour in Singapore (from Sunday).
Our Thursday recap:
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