WASHINGTON ( Associated Press) – FC Bayern Munich have begun the second leg of their tour of the USA. On Friday afternoon (local time), coach Julian Nagelsmann’s star ensemble travels from the capital, Washington, to Green Bay, where the second and final game of the pre-season takes place.
English champions Manchester City from former Munich coach Pep Guardiola will demand more from Bayern on the German night of July 24 (1:00 AM/CEST) than DC United in a 6-2 win over Washington.
New signer Sadio Mane will no longer be around, who will not return to the USA after leaving Morocco to compete for Africa’s footballer of the year. The 30-year-old Senegal won against his former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and his national teammate Edouard Mendy (Chelsea) in Rabat on Thursday.
CEO Oliver Kahn said, “We are very pleased with the award of Sadio Mane. In its long history, FC Bayern has never received African Footballer of the Year in its ranks.” “It’s a special honor for our club.”
“It takes the will to win”
Even without Mane, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Munich teammate Bauna Sar in February, Munich are looking to get into the mood for a competitive start with a win against City a week later.
Regarding the goal of preparation, Nagelsmann said, “It is important to have the will to win.” During the Test break in Washington he changed the entire team and split game time so much, he announced a different approach to the City match. “Maybe some decisions will become a little clearer,” said Nagelsmann, who turns 35 on game day. “But it will not be the final decision for the Supercup.”
On 30 July the German champions from Munich will compete with cup winners RB Leipzig in a Supercup duel. Six days later, Bayern started the new Bundesliga season in Eintracht Frankfurt, winners of the Europa League.
