‘Competitive’ Bayern head into Europe boosted by Leipzig reinforcements

‘Competitive’ Bayern head into Europe boosted by Leipzig reinforcementsBayern Munich start their Champions League campaign Tuesday with a mouth-watering clash at Barcelona as the Bavarian giants confidently head into Europe having plundered reinforcements from Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig.

While Paris Saint-Germain snapped up stars like Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos and Manchester United finally signed Jadon Sancho, Bundesliga champions Bayern raided last season’s German runners-up RB Leipzig for talent.

Bayern head into Europe buoyed by results, with 10 points from their first four league games, and confident in their current squad despite no big-name signing this summer.

“We are very, very well positioned – we have possibilities and options. We are definitely competitive,” Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn insisted last week.

France defender Dayot Upamecano was signed for 42.5 million ($50 million) from RB Leipzig, as was versatile Austria midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, at a bargain price of around 16 million euros, as Bayern’s main recruits for this season.

– ‘We don’t force anyone’ –

Ironically, Sabitzer made his Bayern debut off the bench in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Leipzig, where he began the season as club captain.

Bayern also reportedly paid Leipzig around 20 million euros to bring the 34-year-old Julian Nagelsmann to Munich as head coach on a five-year contract after two successful years in Saxony.

Kahn rejects the notion that Bayern deliberately set out to weaken Leipzig, who have lost three of their first four league games.

“We always have a clear idea of the players and coaches we think are good,” said Kahn.

“When an opportunity arises, we try to make it possible.