Revamped Bayern Munich face early Champions League test as Chelsea come to town
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Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has called on his teammates to "start well" in the Champions League.
PHOTO: EPA
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MUNICH – Bayern Munich’s revamped line-up faces an early test in their Champions League opener at home to Club World Cup winners Chelsea on Sept 17.
The German giants have had little time to settle after a summer of upheaval, particularly up front.
Forwards Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Thomas Muller and Mathys Tel all left in the summer. Only two players have come in as replacements: Luis Diaz, signed from Liverpool, and Nicolas Jackson, on loan from Chelsea.
With Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies out with long-term injuries, the lack of summer activity earned Bayern some rare criticism from talisman Harry Kane.
The 32-year-old called Bayern’s squad “thin”, adding “maybe one of the smallest I’ve had in my career”.
With four goals and two assists in his opening five games, Diaz has hit the ground running in Germany.
But Chelsea, crowned Club World Cup winners after a dominant display against Paris Saint-Germain in the final in July, are likely to pose a sterner test.
Like Chelsea, Bayern are expected to make it out of the league phase but have their sights set on qualifying directly and avoiding another two-legged knockout tie.
They finished 12th last term and struggled to get past Celtic, winning 3-2 on aggregate.
On Sept 13, Kane admitted that the added burden disrupted their momentum later in the season.
“It’s important to be in the top eight because that extra game can make a big difference,” he said.
“Last year, playing that Celtic game home and away in our busiest period, it made a big difference. And we ended up losing a few players after that period in March.
“It’s important to start well.”
Jackson came off the bench in his Bayern debut on Sept 13 and is unlikely to start against his parent club.
Kane added that the Senegal striker was more than just a “backup” in the season ahead.
“I think a lot of people assume that, but he’s someone who can play across the whole front four, and I think there’ll be many times we’ll play together,” the England captain said.
“I don’t see him as a backup – I see him as an attacking player who can help us.”
With Kane, Diaz, Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry impressing for Bayern so far in this season, Jackson will have limited opportunities at first – a difficult task for a player often criticised for missing crucial chances.
It is a role familiar to former Bayern striker Claudio Pizarro, who became a super-sub behind Mario Gomez, Mario Mandzukic and later Robert Lewandowski over two spells with the club.
Pizarro, who also had a stint at Chelsea, said last weekend: “In my situation during my time at Bayern, I knew my job. I have to come in, score my goals, be ready to do my thing when I have the chance.
“It’s a hard role to play. I hope (Jackson) will adapt like Luis (Diaz).”
A six-time German champion, Pizarro said Jackson’s arrival could unleash healthy competition like that which drove Bayern to the treble in 2013.
Pizarro revealed how the rivalry between his former teammates Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery on each wing pushed Bayern to greater heights.
“One wanted to be the best, the other as well: Franck and Arjen. They were great for us, but they always wanted to be better than the other.” AFP
