02 Jan 2018
Doha, 2 January 2018. German Bundesliga-champion FC Bayern Munich travelled to Qatar on Tuesday morning to lay the foundation for a successful second half of the season at the six-day training camp at Aspire Academy from 2 to 7 January.
"It wasn't a long break," FC Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes told the club's official website. "But we could have a rest and I hope we've all been able to recharge the batteries. We don't have much time to prepare for our first game of the second half of the season in Leverkusen, so we'll have to use our time wisely.”
25 players including new signing Sandro Wagner and youngsters Ron-Thorben Hoffmann, Lukas Mai (U-19s), Niklas Dorsch, Marco Friedl and Felix Götze (reserves) travelled to Qatar, where the German record champions stage their winter training camp for the eighth year in a row. Only convalescent trio Manuel Neuer, Thiago and Christian Früchtl will stay in Munich to continue their rehab.
"We'll work really well there. There's not much time for preparation but we'll use it to get off to a good start to the second half of the season," announced sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.
The men from Munich are going to play their only friendly in Doha against Qatar Stars League side Al-Ahli SC at Aspire on 6 January at 5pm. Heynckes' men will be back in Bundesliga action only five days after their return form Doha on 12 January, when they are going to face Bayer Leverkusen.