“Seeing FC Bayern stand on the town hall balcony in May (celebrating winning the league) is a part of Munich as Oktoberfest in the autumn and it’s a attractive tradition we want to keep”.
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At minnows Carl Zeiss Jena last Friday, the Frenchman struck a Jena defender on the head while vying for the ball in a 5-0 romp in the first-round of the German Cup. Borussia Dortmund’s coach Thomas Tuchel also did not want to congratulate Bayern Munich right away. After an excellent start in his first season at the club, Costa has cemented his place in the side.
It meant the loss of Hummels to Bayern, along with Ilkay Gundogan and Henrik Mkhitaryan moving to Manchester City and Manchester United respectively felt particularly cruel, with Dortmund apparently crushed once more by financial might at home and overseas.
“Handbags and backpacks larger than the A4 format, and all bottles, thermos flasks and liquids can no longer be brought in”, said Bayern in a statement with new coach Carlo Ancelotti set to take charge of his first Bundesliga game.
“Now we must let them go and look forward”. He is predicting for older players like Arjen Robben, PhilippLahm, Franck Ribery and Xabi Alonso, all over 30 year, when it comes to mastering the demands of the many competitions.
“I hope it won’t be a piece of cake for Bayern”. It will be interesting to see where Kingsley Coman, a player who was handed his debut at 16 by Ancelotti, and Douglas Costa fit in.
“We have a couple of players we are going to try to do a deal (for)”, said Bilic, who has also been linked with a move for Juventus striker Simon Zaza by the British media.
“People are now exaggerating a little in terms of Ribery”, the Italian told broadcaster Sport1.
The matchwinner in the 2014 World Cup final should have that task made easier by Dortmund retaining Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang – the livewire forward now unquestionably established among the very best in European football. Having worked in demanding work environments before and armed with success in Italy, Spain, England and France, Bayern have got one of the finest in the business. But most pundits expect the title race to only involve a few clubs with the big favorite being Bayern Munich.
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Their second league game, at RB Leipzig in a fortnight, means one of Germany’s most traditional clubs will be the first to visit the fledgling outfit, heavily sponsored by energy drink manufacturer Red Bull, in Bundesliga history. Up to ten clubs are expected to be among the candidates fighting to avoid the drop and live to fight another season in Germany’s top division next time around.
