@FCBayernEN: Kick-off!

#FCBFEN #AudiCupi

<b>Niko Kovac apologizes for Leroy Sane comments, but doesn’t regret telling the “truth”</b>
<a href="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k2Yt56A128cI9gumHYT8I_3Iifc=/0x730:2239x2223/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64880916/1165173887.jpg.0.jpg">Bayern Muenchen v Fenerbahce - Audi Cup 2019 Semi Final</a> Photo by Adam Pretty/Bongarts/Getty Images It was not all sunshine and 6-1 victories over Fenerbahce for Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac today. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/bundesliga/teams/bayern-munich">Bayern Munich</a> coach Niko Kovac admitted that he let his excitement over the possibility that <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/manchester-city">Manchester City</a>’s Leroy Sane might join the Bavarians get the better of him. Speaking to <em>ZDF</em> (as captured by <em>Bild</em> reporter Tobias Altschäffl), Kovac explained that he realized his comments went too far and detailed what measures he took to make amends: Kovac im <a href="https://twitter.com/ZDF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZDF</a>: „Ich habe mit Pep gesprochen und mich für meine Aussage (zu Sane) entschuldigt. Ich war zu offensiv, werde mich künftig zurückhalten. Ich möchte mich auch beim Klub (City) entschuldigen.“ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fcbayern?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fcbayern</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/san%C3%A9?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sané</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BILD_Bayern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BILD_Bayern</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SPORTBILD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SPORTBILD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BILD_Sport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BILD_Sport</a>— Tobias Altschäffl (@altobelli13) <a href="https://twitter.com/altobelli13/status/1156303059103993858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2019</a>I spoke with Pep (Guardiola) and apologized for my remark. I was too offensive, I’ll restrain myself in the future. I’d also like to apologize to the club (City).While apologetic, Kovac also stuck to his guns and said he was only telling the truth about what was going on, which might cause some issues internally: Kovac doubling down. "I always speak the truth. What I said (about Sané) was absolutely right and is verified." This is all heading for an almighty bust-up... <a href="https://t.co/3LXgT7octw">https://t.co/3LXgT7octw</a>— Raphael Honigstein (@honigstein) <a href="https://twitter.com/honigstein/status/1156325812192317440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2019</a>Unwittingly, <a href="https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2019/7/28/8933895/bayern-munich-breaking-niko-kovac-confident-leroy-sane-transfer-signing-rumor-manchester-city-winger">Kovac’s comments</a> put some undo pressure on Bayern front office officials to get a deal done, while also irritating Manchester City. It was a true, double-whammy of a gaffe by Kovac. Kovac might not have intended to initiate any controversy, but the quote below rubbed both Manchester officials and fans the wrong way: Our leadership is very engaged in the situation there. I’m confident and assume that we will get him.Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was blunt when asked about the controversy as he issued the following terse statement (as featured in the tweet below): “I didn’t like [Kovac’s] statement about Sané.” Kovac über die Rummenigge-Watsch („Aussage hat zu Sané hat mir nicht gefallen“) im <a href="https://twitter.com/ZDF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZDF</a>: „Habe mit Pep gesprochen und mich entschuldigt. Die Welt dreht sich weiter!“
Schön was los für so ein Testspiel! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Audicup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Audicup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBFEN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBFEN</a>— Henning Feindt (@Karlo_Kolumna) <a href="https://twitter.com/Karlo_Kolumna/status/1156302711580700674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2019</a>Poor Niko seems to be digging himself a hole internally at Bayern, but he also indicated that <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/players/221679/serge…

<b>Renato Sanches explains how Niko Kovac and Bayern’s front office convinced him to stay in Munich</b>
<a href="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/etcBg5Zqozbs4I7y-jF-ttB3Cs8=/0x0:1486x991/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64905627/1036570730.jpg.0.jpg">SL Benfica v FC Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League Group E</a> Photo by TF-Images/Getty ImagesIt hasn’t been easy for Sanches at Bayern, but the coaching staff and front office remain confident he’ll break through.Since joining the club in 2016, Renato Sanches has struggled to hit top form with <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/bundesliga/teams/bayern-munich">Bayern Munich</a>, plain and simple. The Portuguese midfielder hasn’t been able to string together consistently solid performances and has seen decreased minutes under Niko Kovac as a result. Despite this Kovac, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Uli Hoeness, and Hasan Salihamidzic see plenty of potential in him and are confident his fortunes will change in Munich.Per a new report by <a href="https://www.bild.de/bild-plus/sport/fussball/fussball/fc-bayern-das-fordert-renato-sanches-von-trainer-niko-kovac-63721646,view=conversionToLogin.bild.html">Bild+</a>, Sanches said that he is now feeling good on the pitch after a solid pre-season that was capped off by a goal in Bayern’s 6-1 win over Fenerbache in the Audi Cup. He featured in all of Bayern’s pre-season matches between the International Champions Cup and the Audi Cup, except for the opening match of the ICC, which was the 2-1 loss against <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/arsenal">Arsenal</a> in Los Angeles. Thus far, he feels things are already going a lot better than last season:When I am on the field and then score on top of that, it feels very good — better than last season!Sanches’s goal vs. Fenerbache. A perfectly-timed run to stay onside:<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBFEN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBFEN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AudiCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AudiCup</a>
1-0 | 22e &#9201;
Renato Sanches ouvre le score pour le Bayern après une très jolie action !

À suivre en direct et en exclusivité sur <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RMCSport1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RMCSport1</a> !
&#9997; Direct écrit &#10145; <a href="https://t.co/blKhbjFFfi">https://t.co/blKhbjFFfi</a> <a href="https://t.co/aBnjjzTScr">pic.twitter.com/aBnjjzTScr</a>— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMCsport/status/1156278401956745216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2019</a>At the end of last season, Sanches’s future seemed to be up in the air. He was clearly unhappy with his lack of minutes under Kovac and it looked as if he was going to push for a move away from Munich during the summer <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">transfer window</a>.After only making a total of 24 appearances across all competitions last season scoring only 2 goals and providing 3 assists, it looked well and truly as if Sanches was going to cut his losses and look for a new club. Now he’s decided to stay and work on bolstering his prospects with Bayern, though, larelgy thanks to Kovac and Bayern’s front office:When the bosses told me that I have to stay, it felt good, even though I wanted to transfer. I could feel their appreciation! But I also need enough playing time.Kovac has made a point of speaking with Sanches on a number of occasions to help convince him to stay at Bayern, assuring the 21-year old that he’s going to play an important role for the club moving forward. After all, it was Kovac who said no to Sanches potentially moving to Paris Saint-Germain during the winter transfer window because he wanted him to stay and fight for his place in the squad. After their most recent discussions, Sanches said that it’s clear what Kovac expects from him this season and that their relationship is good:The coach and I have now spoken at length once or twice. Now I know exactly what he wants from me. Our…