The 53rd Bundesliga season gets underway again on Friday when FC Bayern München meet Hamburger SV. When the ball gets rolling there will almost always be Germany internationals on show. DFB.de will be outlining what the Bundesliga clubs have done and their ambitions for the new season from the perspective of Die Mannschaft. Today these clubs are Mönchengladbach, Wolfsburg and Bayern.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Germany international: Max Kruse has gone and so has Christoph Kramer – that leaves Patrick Herrmann as the only Germany international in Lucien Favre’s squad. Herrmann made his senior international debut in June during the friendly against the USA in Cologne. After his debut he let everyone know on Facebook: “A childhood dream came true last night!! A simply amazing feeling to wear the eagles on your chest.” He got another chance to experience this feeling when he appeared in the 7-0 win over Gibraltar in Faro in a European Championship qualifier.
What’s new?: Gladbach have lost some real quality with the departures of Kramer and Kruse, but also gained some quality. The persuasion of the board has allowed central midfielder Lars Stindl to arrive from Hannover, defender Nico Elvedi from Zurich and Andreas Christensen on loan from Chelsea. Josip Drmic has been brought in from Leverkusen to strengthen the attack. Something else new is Lucien Favre’s rotating captaincy, whereby there is no fixed captain at the beginning of the season for Gladbach.
What are the expectations?: The Fohlenelf cantered along at such a pace in the second half of last season that not even they could have predicted. Gladbach collected 39 points and won the honorary title of best team of the second half of the season. More valuable, however, was their place in the table which has given VfL Champions League football for the first time in 37 years. “the Champions League for us is like winning the Bundesliga,” stresses sporting director Max Eberl. Gladbach now have to make sure that they find a balance between league and European football. In terms of Europe, Lucien Favre says, “we mustn’t forget that we are not just in the Champions League to make up the numbers. Definitely not! We want to give a good showing of ourselves – that is important for the club, for our fans and also for the Bundesliga and German football.” In terms of domestic competitions, Favre says, “in the first half of last season we profited from Dortmund’s bad spell, and in the second half from Schalke’s. That is unlikely to happen to both clubs this time.”
When do they start?: Gladbach have already beaten St Pauli 4-1 in the DFB Cup, and they start their Bundesliga campaign on Saturday in the battle of Borussias against Dortmund. In the first half of last season they beat Dortmund 3-1 when Patrick Herrmann put fear into Dortmund hearts with his performance. Whether the Germany international will be able to do this same this time is still unclear. “he returned to pre-season late and he always needs some time in summer to get into gear. But it’s just a question of time when he can return to the starting XI.”
VfL Wolfsburg
Germany internationals: As well as World Cup winner André Schürrle, the Wolves have also signed another Germany international in Max Kruse this summer. Robin Knoche has also been able to sample the atmosphere of the national team.
What’s new?: As well as Kruse, the Wolves have also brought in Peruvian defender Carlos Ascues. Midfielder Francisco Rodriguez has come from Zurich and keeper Koen Casteels has returned to VfL from Bremen. Continuity is the buzz word around VfL, and that means convincing Kevin de Bruyne that Wolfsburg is a lot nicer than Manchester.
What are the expectations?: VfL can’t do too much better. Last year Wolfsburg won the DFB Cup and were runners-up in the Bundesliga, an almost perfect season in the eyes of the Wolves. The ambition is to affirm these performances and play a good role in the Champions League. In any case, sporting director Klaus Allofs doesn’t see the team as being in a position to hold off Bayern for an entire season. “we are always striving for the best,” he says. “but I maintain that the championship is unrealistic for us. I am of the opinion that Bayern are well and truly ahead of us and of the other teams. We are not Bayern hunters, not competition who should be mentioned in the same breath as Bayern.” the sporting director describes VfL’s aims: “We want to continue the teams very good performances from last season and in the future establish ourselves as one of the top teams.”
The 53rd Bundesliga season gets underway again on Friday when FC Bayern München meet Hamburger SV. When the ball gets rolling there will almost always be Germany internationals on show. DFB.de will be outlining what the Bundesliga clubs have done and their ambitions for the new season from the perspective of Die Mannschaft. Today these clubs are Mönchengladbach, Wolfsburg and Bayern.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Germany international: Max Kruse has gone and so has Christoph Kramer – that leaves Patrick Herrmann as the only Germany international in Lucien Favre’s squad. Herrmann made his senior international debut in June during the friendly against the USA in Cologne. After his debut he let everyone know on Facebook: “A childhood dream came true last night!! A simply amazing feeling to wear the eagles on your chest.” He got another chance to experience this feeling when he appeared in the 7-0 win over Gibraltar in Faro in a European Championship qualifier.
What’s new?: Gladbach have lost some real quality with the departures of Kramer and Kruse, but also gained some quality. The persuasion of the board has allowed central midfielder Lars Stindl to arrive from Hannover, defender Nico Elvedi from Zurich and Andreas Christensen on loan from Chelsea. Josip Drmic has been brought in from Leverkusen to strengthen the attack. Something else new is Lucien Favre’s rotating captaincy, whereby there is no fixed captain at the beginning of the season for Gladbach.
What are the expectations?: The Fohlenelf cantered along at such a pace in the second half of last season that not even they could have predicted. Gladbach collected 39 points and won the honorary title of best team of the second half of the season. More valuable, however, was their place in the table which has given VfL Champions League football for the first time in 37 years. “the Champions League for us is like winning the Bundesliga,” stresses sporting director Max Eberl. Gladbach now have to make sure that they find a balance between league and European football. In terms of Europe, Lucien Favre says, “we mustn’t forget that we are not just in the Champions League to make up the numbers. Definitely not! We want to give a good showing of ourselves – that is important for the club, for our fans and also for the Bundesliga and German football.” In terms of domestic competitions, Favre says, “in the first half of last season we profited from Dortmund’s bad spell, and in the second half from Schalke’s. That is unlikely to happen to both clubs this time.”
When do they start?: Gladbach have already beaten St Pauli 4-1 in the DFB Cup, and they start their Bundesliga campaign on Saturday in the battle of Borussias against Dortmund. In the first half of last season they beat Dortmund 3-1 when Patrick Herrmann put fear into Dortmund hearts with his performance. Whether the Germany international will be able to do this same this time is still unclear. “he returned to pre-season late and he always needs some time in summer to get into gear. But it’s just a question of time when he can return to the starting XI.”
VfL Wolfsburg
Germany internationals: As well as World Cup winner André Schürrle, the Wolves have also signed another Germany international in Max Kruse this summer. Robin Knoche has also been able to sample the atmosphere of the national team.
What’s new?: As well as Kruse, the Wolves have also brought in Peruvian defender Carlos Ascues. Midfielder Francisco Rodriguez has come from Zurich and keeper Koen Casteels has returned to VfL from Bremen. Continuity is the buzz word around VfL, and that means convincing Kevin de Bruyne that Wolfsburg is a lot nicer than Manchester.
What are the expectations?: VfL can’t do too much better. Last year Wolfsburg won the DFB Cup and were runners-up in the Bundesliga, an almost perfect season in the eyes of the Wolves. The ambition is to affirm these performances and play a good role in the Champions League. In any case, sporting director Klaus Allofs doesn’t see the team as being in a position to hold off Bayern for an entire season. “we are always striving for the best,” he says. “but I maintain that the championship is unrealistic for us. I am of the opinion that Bayern are well and truly ahead of us and of the other teams. We are not Bayern hunters, not competition who should be mentioned in the same breath as Bayern.” the sporting director describes VfL’s aims: “We want to continue the teams very good performances from last season and in the future establish ourselves as one of the top teams.”
When do they start?: Wolfsburg were not dominant in the Supercup against Bayern but still won the trophy. The team, however, were a lot more commanding in their 4-1 DFB Cup win over Stuttgarter Kickers. Last season’s runners-up begin their league campaign on Sunday at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. They will have to go into the game without World Cup winner Schürrle, with the Germany international suffering problems with his calf muscle and will only return to training with the team in the coming weeks.
Bayern Munich
Germany Internationals: There used to be more. Philipp Lahm has retired from international duty, Bastian Schweinsteiger is now playing in England, Holger Badstuber still needs more time – the block of Germany Internationals at Bayern has shrunk. A formidable quartet though is still standing: Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Mario Götze and Thomas Müller.
What’s new?: First of all, Bastian Schweinstiger is no longer there – which really does take some getting used to. Chilean Arturo Vidal has been brought in from Turin as the Germany captain’s direct replacement. The second big signing is Douglas Costa from Donetsk, a player who impressed throughout pre-season. There are also high hopes for Joshua Kimmich, the U21 Germany International. Manager Pep Guardiola has emphasised this, saying: "he is one of the best players in my team, and will be one of the best German players in the next ten years."
What are the expectations?: The trophy hauls of the last three years: triple, double, single. Three, two, one – the pattern does not add up, the number is expected to rise again. The aims are as ambitious as ever; as well as the German title, the Munich based team have their sights firmly set on Europe. Guardiola said: "of course it’s about the league, and of course champions league too" DFB Cup too, no doubt. The manager wants the triple, and in winning the championship he would achieve another aim too: the fourth title. A Bundesliga trophy this year would be Bayern’s fourth in a row, a feat which has never been achieved before in the history of German football.
When do they start?: Bayern may not have dazzled in the DFB Cup, but a 3-1 win against Nöttingen saw them through to the next round. Their Bundesliga campaign gets underway tonight. The champions have the honour of the first match of the new season, a classic match which sees the most successful side in Germany’s history take on the Bundesliga only ever-present team, HSV.
