Bayern boss rues match fitness of his men returning from post-World Cup vacation ahead of tonight’s season-opening clash with Borussia Dortmund
Pep Guardiola
Dortmund: Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola says only "eight or nine" of his first team players are fully fit due to many returning late from the World Cup.
Bayern's Pep Guardiola
The Bavarians lost the DFL-Supercup last season to Borussia Dortmund but got revenge by winning the Bundesliga by a massive margin ahead of their rivals and defeating Jurgen Klopp's men in the DFB-Pokal final in extra-time.
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They will be looking to punish Dortmund once again but, with Arjen Robben, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Bastian Schweinsteiger and many more having only recently returned to pre-season training, Guardiola is hardly full of confidence heading into this year's Supercup clash.
"Last summer my players were fitter for the Supercup," he said.
"This time I only have eight or nine players that are fully fit — no more. The world champions have trained well, but they need time. I'm happy that I have six world champions.
'Bayern playing to win'
"After training today I will talk to the players then decide who can play and for how long.
Arjen Robben (extreme left), Manuel Neuer, Tobias Schweinsteiger, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller on the bench during a recent friendly. Pics/Getty Images
"This is not a friendly game, though, this is a final. We're playing to win."
Meanwhile, the match has been given an edge by reports that Bayern are trying to sign Borussia's Marco Reus. Bayern have already signed Mario Götze and Robert Lewandowski from the Westphalians in the past two seasons.
However, Guardiola does not see any need for his club to make a move for Reus. "He's a Dortmund player and we have eight forwards anyway," he said.
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