For Tom Bischof, a new chapter in his young football career has begun. On Thursday evening, the 19-year-old midfielder linked up with the FC Bayern team at the Club World Cup base camp in Orlando. “The first day was very good, I’ve been received brilliantly by the lads,” said Bischof in a press conference on Friday. “I was lucky that I’ve already played with one or two of them for the national team.”
FCB sporting director Christoph Freund praised the new boy as “a really talented player who’s already an international now”, describing his impressive development in the last couple of years. “He was a key player at Hoffenheim last season and has shown that even in difficult periods, he takes on responsibility at a young age,” continued Freund. In general, the midfielder “suits FC Bayern very well with the way he plays”.
Bischof ‘raring to go’
The move to Munich is a childhood dream come true for Bischof. “I’ve been a fan all my life, I have a big picture of me in a Bayern shirt hanging over my bed at my parents’ house,” explained the 19-year-old. “The talks with Max Eberl, Christoph Freund and also Vincent Kompany were very good. The system of play suits me very well. I love pressing the ball. Bayern play around the box a huge amount, where my shooting strength could come into play. I’d say it’s a perfect match.” For him it’s now about integrating in the team as quickly as possible. “I want to find my feet in the team, produce great performances and win trophies. I’m raring to go.”
Bischof sees a big advantage in the fact he’s already joined in time for the Club World Cup. “Hopefully we’ll be hanging out together for a month, so I’ll get to know everyone very well,” he said. “That will help us grow together, too.” Freund also highlighted the importance of new signing Bischof and Jonathan Tah already being with the group: “You experience emotions together here and it’s also important from a sporting point of view, so we’re very glad that the two of them are already here.”
Bayern play their opening match of the Club World Cup this Sunday against Auckland City FC in Cincinnati – and Bischof has a clear aim for his first tournament with the Reds: “I want to win the title here!”
In our live blog you’ll find the main statements from the press conference with new signings Tom Bischof and Jonathan Tah:
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