By Klaus Bergmann, dpa
Munich (dpa) – Incoming Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday he was proud to have joined the Bundesliga champions and is intending to maintain their recent run of success as they begin preparations for the next campaign.
«I am very happy and proud to be here,» Ancelotti told reporters, initially in German before switching to English and Italian, at his official introduction. «We’ll try to be strong in all competitions and win.»
Later Monday Ancelotti was to lead the team in training for the first time to start the build-up to the 2016-17 season.
The 57-year-old Italian Ancelotti replaces Pep Guardiola who moved to Premier League club Manchester City after winning three consecutive Bundesligas with Bayern. However, the Spaniard failed to lift the Champions League title and that is sure to be a major goal for Ancelotti.
Having already won the Champions trophy on two occasions with AC Milan, and with Real Madrid, Ancelotti could become the first coach to win Europe’s elite title with three different clubs.
Guardiola’s Bayern sides fell at the semi-final hurdle in each of his three attempts at the Champions League, losing to Spanish opposition on each occasion.
The squad has already been strengthened with the addition of defender Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund and midfielder Renato Sanches from Benfica, who will join up with the squad later after winning Euro 2016 with Portugal.
«We wanted to strengthen the central defence and the midfield,»
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. «We’re happy to have got both players.»
Ancelotti suggested he was generally happy with the squad, calling it «competitive,» but while he promised attacking football he was anxious not to promise the Champions League.
«It is not easy to win the Champions League,» he said. «Every top club wants to do that, every year. But only one team can do so.
«We want to want win it but only one team can.»
