Bundesliga
Serge Gnabry: "We'll be ready"
Serge Gnabry says Bayern Munich will be a completely different animal once the new campaign gets under way, despite a run of four pre-season friendlies without a win.
Bayern were beaten 3-0 by Napoli in their final summer test, having also slipped up against Bundesliga rivals Cologne and Borussia Mönchengladbach, and drawn with Ajax.
The record champions now have less than a week to go until the competitive season kicks off with a trip to fifth-tier Bremer in the DFB Cup first round. They begin their Bundesliga title defence on 13 August in Gladbach, before facing Borussia Dortmund in the DFL Supercup four days later.
Watch: A look ahead to what lies in wait for Bayern in 2021/22
By then, Gnabry fully expects his side to be nearing tip-top condition.
"It's just the usual process," reflected the Germany international after playing his part in a goalless first half against Napoli, in which Bayern were the superior outfit.
"We haven't played with each other for a couple of months, and most of us have only been training for a week. That's why it'll take time for everyone to get up to speed and for us to internalise the new coach's ideas."
There were plenty of signs of encouragement in a competitive first half at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.
With regular first-team players Benjamin Pavard, Leon Goretzka, Jamal Musiala, Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane and Robert Lewandowski enjoying their first minutes of pre-season following their UEFA Euro 2020 commitments, Julian Nagelsmann's men were desperately unlucky not to go in ahead at the break.
Gnabry, who managed 30 minutes in the loss to Gladbach on 28 July, also showed flashes of brilliance in the first 45, before a much-changed line-up conceded three second-half goals.
"We wanted to win, but obviously it didn't work out," Gnabry admitted.
"After a week of full training, the legs are a bit heavy, but that's the same every pre-season. Even so, it feels great to be on the pitch and back in the Allianz Arena again.
"Our rhythm will return with more games, and everything will be fine."
Bayern are the record nine-in-a-row Bundesliga champions, after all. They also have captain Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Müller, Alphonso Davies and Lucas Hernandez to reintroduce to the fold over the coming weeks.
Gnabry, meanwhile, has scored 10 or more goals in each of his five Bundesliga seasons to date.
Needless to say, Bremer, Gladbach, Dortmund and the rest of the field won't be reading too much into Bayern's pre-season performances.
"The situation will drastically improve with time, but I'm sure we'll be ready," warned Gnabry. "I hope we perform like we always do."