Bommel looks to succeed
Midfield tough-guy Mark van Bommel leads Bayern Munich into the new Bundesliga season on Saturday determined to stamp his authority and that of new coach Louis van Gaal on the Bavarian giants.
The two Dutchmen are key to Bayern's hopes of wresting the title back from Wolfsburg after finishing an agonising two points behind the shock champions last season.
Van Gaal, who has followed the sacked Jurgen Klinsman into the Bayern hotseat, believes van Bommel is the right man for the job as another marathon league and European Champions League season beckons.
"I saw that Mark has a huge influence on the team," said van Gaal. "He's a big supporter of my philosophy, my methods and my values. That matters to me. I need someone to represent me on the field."
Van Bommel, 32, was delighted to be handed his Dutch compatriot's vote of confidence.
"You're always proud and delighted to be appointed captain of such a big club," he said.
Bayern begin their campaign on Saturday away at Hoffenhiem, the unfashionable side who led the top flight for long spells in 2008-2009 before they fell away.
Striker Mario Gomez, signed for a club record 30 million euros from Stuttgart, has a groin strain, but should start for Bayern although question marks remain over French international Franck Ribery, who has been dogged by knee trouble.
The highly-sought Ribery admits that he needs to be patient.
"We reported back on July 1, but I've only been involved in four or five training sessions since then," he said.
"It'll do me a lot of good to work out with the team again. I miss the football, and working out by yourself is no fun."
Bayern's Argentine international defender Martin Demichelis has already been ruled out for up to seven weeks with a right ankle injury while German international striker Miroslav Klose is also doubtful because of a muscle problem.
But new signings Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Ivica Olic are expected to play.
Champions Wolfsburg kick-off the new season on Friday against Stuttgart.
Markus Babbel, the Stuttgart coach, believes big-spending Bayern are the team to stop.
"It has to be Bayern," Babbel, a former Bayern stalwartm told www.uefa.com.
"They are the one club who have the right to expect the title every season, especially this year after they spent so much."
Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh, who replaced title-winning Felix Magath, has added former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins to the champion's squad which will include last season's 54-goal pairing of Edin Dzeko and Grafite.
Stuttgart have been busy in the transfer market signing Zenit St. Petersburg forward Pavel Pogrebnyak and former favourite Aleksandr Hleb from Barcelona.
Magath, who is now at Schalke, starts his new season against Nuremburg but believes patience and team-building will be key at the Gelsenkirchen outfit.
"We are aiming for the title," said Magath. "I don't know how long that will take; that's why I signed a four-year deal."
FIXTURES
Saturday
Borussia Dortmund v Cologne, Hertha Berlin v Hannover 96, Mainz v Bayer Leverkusen, Nuremburg v Schalke 04, Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen v Eintracht Frankfurt
Sunday
SC Freiburg v Hamburg, VfL Bochum v Borussia Moenchengladbach
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