Bayern coach Pep Guardiola is looking forward to his side's eight-day tour of China, which begins next week - © © imago / Lackovic
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola is looking forward to his side's eight-day tour of China, which begins next week - © © imago / Lackovic

Guardiola relishing Bayern's China trip

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Munich - FC Bayern München coach Pep Guardiola is relishing the club's upcoming Bundesliga World Tour 2015 trip to China, according to a recent interview.

Glamour fixtures

"Clubs have to go around the world to showcase and establish themselves," the Catalan tactician explained to fcb.tv. "It'll be good. Last year's pre-season trip to the USA was good and this season's to China will be good again. The club does well organising it."

Bayern will play three friendlies in the world’s most populous country, facing Valencia CF in Beijing on 18 July, FC Internazionale Milano in Shanghai three days later and Guangzhou Evergrande in Guangzhou on 23 July. "We have three games against three good teams," added the 44-year-old. "It'll be good preparation."

Bayern fly to China on Thursday 16 July, and Guardiola will have a full squad from which to choose for the three friendlies when the club's international stars report back for first-team training on Saturday. Such a long break is uncommon in the modern professional game, explains Guardiola. "When I was a player we had more time to recover," he said. "But now there are more games: be they internationals, club fixtures or friendlies. It’s best to adapt to any situation which arises."

Costa praise

New arrival Douglas Costa will be part of the squad which travels to China next week. The Brazilian international, who featured for his country at the recent Copa America, will also link up with his new team-mates on Saturday for the team presentation at the Allianz Arena. Much like Costa's compatriot Rafinha, Guardiola was full of praise for the winger.

"We needed a player with the ability to beat his man in one-on-ones," said the Bayern coach. "Last season we had some problems after the injuries to Franck [Ribery] and Arjen [Robben]. For that reason we needed someone who can play on both flanks. He's young, only 24, but he's been playing in the UEFA Champions League for five or six years already. We're convinced he'll help us over the next four or five years."