Bayern conclude winter training camp at Aspire

FC Bayern Munich wrapped up their eighth annual winter training camp atAspire Zone yesterday. The winter camp has become a key part of theBundesliga champion’s training preparations ahead of restarting thefootball season. The team concluded their final training session in themorning and flew back to Germany on the same day.To mark the success of the training camp with Aspire Zone Foundation,Mohammed bin Fahad al-Thani, AZF’s external affairs representative,presented a commemorative shield to Hasan Salihamidzic, FC BayernMunich’s Sporting Director.Salihamidzic said: “Our training camp at Aspire Zone Foundation clearlyachieved its objectives, and the players are refreshed and ready toresume playing in the Bundesliga and the Champions League. He added: “We held morning and evening training sessions which hasprepared us well to face Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Friday in theBundesliga, and SG Sonnenhof Grobaspach next Tuesday in a friendly.We’re also looking forward to our match against Turkish side Besiktas inthe Champions League in February.”Salihamidzic summed up the team’s experience at AZF saying: “The weatherwas ideal here, with temperatures around 25°c. Aspire Zone has greatfacilities and the pitches are world-class.”Following a match against Qatari Club Al-Ahli SC, which Bayern won 6-0,Dutch midfielder Arjen Robben praised the training camp at Aspire ZoneFoundation saying that the facilities and the atmosphere helped the teamto focus. “It’s going to be interesting. We are looking forward to ourupcoming matches, as we have some big games coming,” he said.Defender Juan Bernat said: “We are totally satisfied with our wintertraining camp in Doha. The camp has become a key event in our annualcalendar and AZF’s facilities are really impressive.” He added: “Our goal is to clinch as many titles as possible this seasonwith our new coach Jupp Heynckes. He’s brought real focus to the team.” Young midfielder Kingsley Coman said: “I have had several training campsat Aspire with both FC Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain. My firstvisit to Aspire was several years ago when I played for ParisSaint-Germain in the U-17 Al Kass International Cup tournament. And I’vebeen back since with Bayern several times. I’m getting used to theatmosphere here, and AZF’s facilities are really fantastic”.In addition to Bayern Munich, Aspire Zone’s world-class facilities andpitches have attracted a number of other leading teams for trainingcamps including Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, FC Schalke 04 inaddition to Aspire-owned Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa and KAS Eupen,and the Tunisian team, who are currently training in AZF.