The Italian coach insists he has not made many changes to the Bundesliga champions since he took charge in the summer, apart from making them a more direct side
Carlo Ancelotti says he has made very few changes to Bayern Munich since replacing Pep Guardiola at the helm, but feels he has turned them into a more direct side.
The defending Bundesliga champions got the 2016-17 campaign off to a great start on Friday as they trounced Werder Bremen 6-0.
Robert Lewandowski netted three, while Xabi Alonso, Philipp Lahm and Franck Ribery were also among the goals in a comfortable win.
Ancelotti was delighted with his team’s performance, but insists they look much the same as they did last term.
“We made a very good start to the game, we scored quickly and completely controlled the game,” he said.
“I’m very happy, this is a very good performance from my team.
“In fact, I have changed very little in this team, it’s a great team. We just tried to play a little more directly.”
Ancelotti hailed Lewandowski after the striker scored his second hat-trick in two games, with the Poland international having hit a cup treble against Carl Zeiss Jena a week ago.
“He is a fantastic player,” said Ancelotti. “He is always in the box ready to score.”
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Mats Hummels made his second Bundesliga appearance for Bayern – the first was in May 2007 before his decorated spell at Borussia Dortmund – and the centre-back accepted it felt “weird” to be back at the club after eight years away.
“It was a little weird for me to return to the Allianz Arena,” said Hummels.
“I was a little nervous, but it’s a perfect start for us, to put us on track in the league.
“For me, I’m still not 100 per cent in my form but it was a good match. The road is still long for us.”