Munich (dpa) – Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick said Friday that the whole world will be watching the Bundesliga restart and that his team faces a strong opponent in Union Berlin.
Bayern take a four-point lead over Borussia Dortmund, who they visit on May 26, into the restart for the final nine rounds of the season behind closed doors and under a strict hygiene protocol because of the coronavirus crisis.
“Union have a great mentality,” Flick said of promoted Union who have played a good debut season in the top flight to rank 11th.
“They play at home against Bayern. I think we can expect the same thing as with spectators: an aggressive team that plays towards the goal. We have to stand our ground.”
Bayern have won seven of their unbeaten eight games between the winter break and the suspension of the league in mid-March, and aim to continue in that fashion en route to a record-extending eighth straight Bundesliga crown.
Their Bundesliga top scorer Robert Lewandowski is back from a shinbone fracture that would have made him miss the game in March, while Javi Martinez is doubtful.
Flick, who had his contract renewed until 2023 during the break, said that the German restart will be followed closely because it is the first major football and sports league in the world to get going again.
“The whole world is watching Germany, how we do it. This can send a signal to all leagues. Then sport in general can perhaps be resumed. We have a big role model function,” he said.
Flick also said he was not afraid that his players could contract the Sars-CoV-2 virus but that players who fear being infected at games could withdraw “without consequences.”
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