One day before the match away to VfB Stuttgart (Live in English from 18.30 CEST on our exclusive fcbayern.com ticker) Niko Kovac commented on yesterday's Champions League draw. "They're very attractive opponents. We're looking forward to the group stage," the 46-year-old said about the group with Benfica, AEK Athens and Ajax at Friday's press conference.
"The Champions League is in three weeks, the Bundesliga is our bread and butter," the Croat hastened to add, turning the focus to Bayern's upcoming opponents. "The expectations in Stuttgart are high, that makes it more difficult for us," Kovac commented on the Swabians. "We'll have to fight. We want to win there but it's not going to be easy."
The Bayern head coach has almost all players at his disposal to win the first away match of the Bundesliga campaign. Only Kingsley Coman is sidelined with injury, so Kovac has many options. "I have an idea but I won't share it publicly. We'll see what happens tomorrow," he said, declining to reveal his starting line-up.
His counterpart at Stuttgart followed suit. Tayfun Korkut too has only one man on the injury roster, substitute goalkeeper Alexander Meyer. "We're prepared in a way that we'll be looking for chances in this match too," the optimistic 44-year-old commented ahead of VfB's first home match of the Bundesliga campaign. "We're looking forward to the duel with FC Bayern. I'm sure the VfB fans will support us splendidly, and that our team will be fired up out on the pitch."
But that goes for the German record champions too as they have something to atone for. Bayern lost 4-1 at home to Stuttgart on the final matchday of last season. "I think my players will be extremely motivated to atone for that," Kovac announced. "But we'll have to work, talking doesn't win you matches," he concluded before taking to the training ground.
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