Bundesliga Media Days: FC Bayern München
Munich - The spotlight was back on FC Bayern München on Thursday as the 24-time Bundesliga champions held their annual Media Day just hours before jetting off to China on Bundesliga World Tour duty.
The event, which took place at the record champions’ Säbener Straße training complex, is used to present the club's new signings, take official photographs and produce exclusive media content for use throughout the upcoming campaign.
bundesliga.com rounds up the highlights…
Bayern media day: best bits
1) Uncharted waters for new boy Costa
The media frenzy which accompanies Bayern's superstars everywhere they go was certainly uncharted terrirtory for summer signing Douglas Costa, even as a Brazilian international. The winger, however, was unperturbed, posing calmly for his photo and video portrait and impressing in his action shots. "He's a really fast player who's going to help us a lot," said Arjen Robben of his new team-mate.
3) Bullish Thiago
Bayern's midfield maestro is already buzzing to get back into action, with one eye on the upcoming Supercup against DFB Cup winners VfL Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena. "We've lost in the last two seasons," explained Thiago. "So this time, the cup is going to be ours."
5) No room to breathe
Bayern's stars may well look back on Thursday as one of their busiest days of the year: the champions were put through their paces on the training field in the morning, attended the media day in the afternoon before boarding the team bus to the airport to fly to China as part of the Bundesliga World Tour 2015. Pep Guardiola's men departed for Beijing at 20.00 CEST, where they will play three high-profile friendlies.
Best of social media
Happy chappies
If their smiling faces are anything to go by, Bayern's defensive trio Holger Badstuber, Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez enjoyed the media day...
China calling
Sinan Kurt is looking forward to Bayern's trip east.
Allow me to introduce myself...
Translation: New Bayern keeper Sven Ulreich introduces himself on camera.
Centre of attention
Translation: Thiago watching the super slow mo video. Will Manuel Neuer and his Bayern team-mates be the Bundesliga's corner kings?
Scream and shout
Translation: Celebration under scrutiny: Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg poses in front of Robert Lewandowski.
Quadruple Dutch
Translation: What does Robben think about a fourth consecutive title with Bayern? "It's a good target. No-one has achieved it before."
Snap happy
Bayern's ever-entertaining Spanish duo!
Get a move on, Franck!
Translation: Müller calls Ribery over to the photoshoot
Picture perfect!
Translation: The 2015/16 team photo ready to be framed!
The end result
FC Bayern München’s official 2015/16 team photo.
Don’t be shy!
The Bayern players prepare for the 2014/15 champions’ official team photo.
We’re waiting…
Translation: FC Bayern’s Bundesliga Media Day is ready to go. Now we just need Thomas Müller, Douglas Costa and Co.