It starts again! After a good two weeks off, FC Bayern Women began their preparations for the new footballing year on Thursday. To kick things off, Giulia Gwinn, Pernille Harder and colleagues completed the obligatory performance and medical tests, before they return to the training pitch on Friday. On fcbayern.com we'll be giving you an overview of this period of preparation for head coach Alexander Straus' team over the next few weeks.
Motivation for the new year
The defending German champions started with the performance diagnostics at the FC Bayern Campus on Thursday. Under the guidance of the fitness coaches and medical team, the players were split into small groups for various tests of agility, stamina, jumping strength and much more. Then on Friday, they'll get back to work with the ball. Gwinn is looking forward to what's ahead: "It was time for a break in order to recharge the batteries. Now I'm raring to go again for the second half of the season. It's nice to see everyone again. During the preparations it's a case of finding our feet tactically and working on a few issues from the first half of the season," said the full-back. Magdalena Eriksson added: "I'm really looking forward to the training camp, too. It's a good opportunity for us to bond as a team. We can do things off the pitch and get to know the new players in the team."
Rested and raring to go after the break: Magdalena Eriksson is looking forward to the upcoming training camp. | © FC Bayern
Straus: 'Use the time together'
Coach Straus is also going into the new year with great drive: "I spent the holidays with my family in Norway. The rest was good but I'm always pleased to come back to Munich. We now have a fairly long period of preparation ahead of us. It's important that we use the time together. Last year we had good successes, but there are a few points we want to improve. At the halfway point of the season, it's about adjusting things. We're always looking for the aspects we can develop. That's the emphasis for the next few weeks."
Winter training camp in Spain
Bayern head off to Seville, Spain on Friday 17 January for a winter training camp. The Munich girls will spend a week preparing for the tasks ahead in the new calendar year in optimal conditions. During the camp, the first friendly against Young Boys also takes place on 22 January.
Pernille Harder and Weronika Zawistowska are preparing with their team for the second half of the season. | © FC Bayern
Following the training camp, it's back to business for FCB Women with the first competitive match of 2025 at RB Leipzig on Bundesliga Matchday 13. Kick-off is at 18:30 CET. A week later, on 9 February (14:00 CET), the Munich girls are on the road again at TSG Hoffenheim.
Bayern's first home game of the new year comes with the DFB Cup quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt on 12 February. Kick-off at the FC Bayern Campus is at 18:30 CET. Another date for the diary is the draw for the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals on 7 February.
Read about Lena Oberdorf and Katharina Naschenweng's rehab journey:
Topics of this article