Club World Cup
Bavaria in Disneyland: World Cup but no Mickey Mouse tournament
Bayern open five days before their opening game with a vanguard around Thomas Müller to the club World Cup. Leroy Sané, who, like other international players, will meet in the USA, is also part of the squad.
Even before the ten-hour flight to the World Cup base camp in the “Sunshine State” Florida, Vincent Kompany sent the professionals of the first Bayern travel group to the training square. As usual, Thomas Müller also started in his final mission as a football professional of the record champion. Even if the Munich resident in Orlando in Disneyland will live and train: As a Mickey Mouse tournament, they do not start the souped-up club World Cup.
The sporty, but financially very lucrative tournament in the new XXL format with 32 teams, is rather tackled by the club bosses and the trainer with maximum focus and high expectations. The tournament is completely planned from the opening game on Sunday (6 p.m. CEST) in Cincinnati to the final on July 13th in New York/New Jersey. “It is not a lust trip, but a real challenge,” said CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen.
Despite the strong competition, the challenge should, especially from Europe with Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Inter Milan or Borussia Dortmund, end up with the trophy as a second German representative. “Of course I hope that we are the first,” said Dreesen. Then the cash register rings correctly: the almost 30 million euros entry fee could grow to over 100 million.
Who knows: For Müller and also captain Manuel Neuer (39), a circle could close: Because the final will take place on July 13, exactly eleven years after their World Cup triumph with the national team in Brazil. “I look forward to feeling the mood on site for the first time,” said Müller.
On Wednesday morning (local time), a first relaxed training is planned in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex “and if we then leave the best possible way as the winner of this first club World Cup, I hope that we have the feeling afterwards: Hey, here we really achieved something big as a team,” said Müller, the tournament veteran: “As a team, you go into this type of 6 to six weeks of intensive cooperation.
The players are demanding a lot after a strainy season, a short vacation and the last national team missions. Six hours of time change and a change of climate with temperatures above 30 degrees must be mastered. There are also a maximum of seven games. In addition to Auckland, the group phase is against the Boca Juniors from Argentina and Benfica Lisbon.
The club wants to make it as pleasant to its professionals as possible. The national players only travel. Initially, you can even take your partners with you. “We want to make it as pleasant as possible for the players if they have this stress after the season,” said Dreesen.
The “Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort” offers many relaxation options. Thomas Müller and Harry Kane should also love the associated golf course. Company nominated a large, 29 player -comprehensive squad with some young talents.
Also Sané in the 29-man squad
The contingent also includes national player Leroy Sané, whose future will continue to be open at the end of the contract on June 30th. Bayern still pay him until after a possible round of 16. Does he then go free of charge? Is he still extending? Is there a mini contract for him – as with Müller – to the end of the tournament?
In the newcomers Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen) and Tom Bischof (TSG Hoffenheim), the Munich bosses around sports director Max Eberl in the special transfer window of the FIFA made an agreement on an early change. For this, a mini-reoeing was due, and Leverkusen and Hoffenheim also save the Juni salaries for Tah and new international Bishop.
After long injuries, offensive star Jamal Musiala and central defender Dayot Upamecano should give their comeback. Minjae Kim also surprisingly went on board after his Achilles tendon complaints. Like Müller, everyone belonged to the first tour group. In America, intensive and complicated weeks are coming to coaches. The team has to deliver – sporty and therefore financially. “The goal is to win. I don’t have the talent to be unmotivated,” said the coach. Kompany ticks like Müller.
dpa
Source: Stern
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