Dante’s debut as head coach of FC Bayern II has so far gone anything but according to plan. Following a 1-3 loss to the Stuttgart Kickers, the Munich reserve team has now suffered its third consecutive preseason defeat—and the start of the season is fast approaching.
For Dante, preparing for his first season as head coach is increasingly becoming a test of patience. Even in the friendly against the Stuttgarter Kickers, the former Bayern defender was denied his first taste of success. Following a 0-2 loss to Legia Warsaw and a 1-4 defeat at Wacker Innsbruck, they now suffered a 1-3 loss to their Regionalliga rival.
The record so far in preseason is correspondingly sobering: three games, three losses.
Dante is keeping his comments to a minimum
After the match, the 42-year-old appeared calm but showed little interest in a detailed analysis. “We have to get to the bus; we’re running late,” Dante explained, according to BILD, after the final whistle, thus ending his conversation with the waiting reporters.
Before that, however, the Brazilian had engaged in an intense discussion with his coaching staff in the locker room. He was the last to board the team bus as it set off on the return trip to Munich.
In any case, there’s no lack of commitment from the new head coach. Even in the sweltering summer heat, Dante vociferously coached his team from the sidelines throughout the entire match. Time and again, he directed his players with commands and gave specific instructions.
His cry of “Together, guys!” was heard particularly often. In between, the Brazilian would switch to French and cheer on his team with “Allez, allez!” In total, Dante speaks five languages fluently.
Not much time left until the start of the competitive season
The real problem right now isn’t communication, but what’s happening on the field. According to BILD, the team listens attentively to their coach and takes his instructions seriously. However, the young Bayern players have so far been unable to consistently put his guidance into practice.
Yet Dante brings a wealth of experience to the table. As a player, he won the Champions League with FC Bayern in 2013, as well as four German championships and three DFB Cups. He only ended his playing career this past spring after his stint with OGC Nice and moved straight to the coaching bench.
However, Dante doesn’t have much time left to get his team in shape.
Bayern II kicks off the new Regionalliga season on July 27 with a home game against SC Eltersdorf. By then, the former world-class defender must not only stabilize the defense but also restore his team’s confidence.
While the results of the preseason aren’t yet cause for panic, they clearly show that Dante and his coaching staff still have a lot of work ahead of them in the coming days.