Before the FC Bayern reserves resume league action in the Regionalliga Bayern in around six weeks' time, head coach Holger Seitz's team have a busy schedule ahead of them, including performance diagnostic tests, a training camp in the United States and various friendlies. fcbayern.com has put together a summary of the most important information for you.
Preparation has begun
For head coach Holger Seitz and the reserves, the training camp in the United States will be a special trip. | © FC Bayern
The Munich side kicked things off on Friday, 9 January, with their annual performance diagnostic tests at the FC Bayern Campus. Divided into small groups, Seitz's team worked their way through various training stations, completing a range of exercises focusing on stamina as well as agility and balance drills. In two days' time, the players will embark on their big trip: On Sunday morning, 11 January, the team led by captain Benno Schmitz will set off for Los Angeles. The youngsters will then be based near San Diego – at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Centre – until 21 January. "It's not every day that we fly to the USA with the reserves for a winter training camp. But we've long wanted to visit our partner Los Angeles FC," said Jochen Sauer, FC Bayen director of youth development and the Campus at FC Bayern, ahead of the trip. LAFC are linked to FC Bayern through the Red&Gold Football joint venture. The aim of the partnership is to promote young talent and provide them with responsible mentoring on their journey into professional football.
The reserves previously completed a training camp in Dallas during the 2018/19 season. | © FC Bayern
The Munich side will spend ten days in the USA preparing for the second half of the season in the Regionalliga – among other things, the reserves will also play a friendly there. "This winter, just under five months before the World Cup kicks off, we had the opportunity to set up camp there and combine it with a training camp for local talent," Sauer continued. In addition to daily training sessions, the Bayern players will also take part in team activities on American soil. "For our young players, this match and the entire trip will be a special challenge." The time will also be significant for Bajung Darboe, the American who moved from the Falcons to the German record champions last winter.
Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Centre: This is where the reserves will prepare for the second half of the Bavarian Regionalliga season. | © Imago
The upcoming mid-season preparation fixtures
The reserves have an intensive preparation programme ahead of them before the first competitive game against Unterhaching on 20 February (19:00 CET). After a friendly on American soil, Seitz's team will face the leaders of the Regionalliga Südwest, SGV Freiberg, at their home ground at the Campus on 29 January (14:00 CET). This will be followed by a match against Viktoria Plzen's U23 side on 3 February (14:00 CET), before the reserves meet Stuttgart Kickers on 7 February (14:00 CET), again at the Campus. Their final warm-up fixture will be the away game on 14 February (14:00 CET) against Austrian second division side First Vienna.
A special afternoon for the talented Campus players featuring Felipe Chávez & Co. during the friendly in Salzburg:
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