FC Bayern is wrapping up its Asian tour on a high note and is already setting its sights on the first title of the new season. Sporting Director Max Eberl is particularly wary of Borussia Dortmund. He says BVB will be highly motivated for the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup—but the Munich team is also determined to win its first trophy.
Bayern Munich has had an intense few days in Asia. On the field, Vincent Kompany’s team built confidence with two 2-1 victories over Jeju SK and Aston Villa. The match against the reigning Europa League champions from Birmingham, in particular, provided important insights.
Now the decisive phase of preparation begins. Eberl has already made it clear what matters most in the coming two weeks. “We face Dortmund in the Super Cup in 14 days. By then, we should already be fairly well prepared for that match,” explained the sporting director.
Eberl expects a motivated Dortmund team
The 52-year-old anticipates a particularly aggressive performance from the runners-up: “Dortmund will come out fighting, determined to win their first trophy.”
However, Munich’s goal is just as clear. “But we want to win that one, too,” Eberl made clear.
Manuel Neuer also expressed satisfaction following the conclusion of the Asian tour. “The conditions weren’t easy, but we performed well—I’m very satisfied,” said the Bayern captain. At the same time, the 40-year-old emphasized that the upcoming friendlies are already clearly focused on the start of competitive play: “We still have friendlies where we’re preparing for the Super Cup. We’re taking that very seriously.”
Two friendlies before the first title showdown
After returning to Munich, Kompany still has two friendly matches to prepare his team for Dortmund. On August 15, the German record champions will host RB Leipzig. Three days later, they’ll face 1. FC Heidenheim in their final tune-up match.
Then things get serious: On August 22, Bayern will visit BVB to compete for the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup.
From a financial standpoint, the Asia tour was also a success. Chief Marketing Officer Rouven Kasper called it a “profitable” tour and stated that the club had once again achieved record revenue.
Bayern can thus head home satisfied, both on the field and financially. However, the grace period during preseason is coming to an end. By the time they face Dortmund at the latest, the only thing that will matter for Kompany and his team is the result.