"We have to ensure the lads are fit." That was how Niko Kovac described his targets for the Audi Summer Tour 2019 at the press conference on Tuesday and he went on to prove that was not just an empty promise in the morning training session. "This morning's session certainly packed a punch," said Thomas Müller in describing the 90 minutes on the pitch at the UCLA Drake Stadium. Intensive moves and diagonal runs were prepared by Kovac and that succeeded in getting his players sweating.
In the afternoon training session, with Bayern in the new away kit, the focus was more on specific moves as well as finishing as the first game is on the next day. At the Dignity Health Sports Park, FCB take on Arsenal on Wednesday (8 PM local time) in the International Champions Cup. "I'm really looking forward to the game tomorrow. A game in a city like LA is always something new and good," said Robert Lewandowski who had a taster for tomorrow in the final pre-match training session.
Debut for Pavard
Some 500 fans came to the session at the stadium of the MLS club LA Galaxy and they provided an excellent atmosphere. In the dual with the Gunners, FC Bayern can rely on the support of the fans. Kovac has already announced that he wants to give all the players who have travelled time on the pitch in this match. "We want to give the players the opportunity to play against good opponents. That's why we'll give everybody 45 minutes," said the head coach.
That means the international players will appear although they "haven’t been back in training for a week yet," declared Kovac. In this first friendly of the pre-season, the fans can look forward to the debut performance of Benjamin Pavard. "He's a World Cup winner. That means he can definitely strengthen our squad," said Lewandowski in praising the French new signing.
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