Bayern will give academy players a platform this season, says Alaba

David Alaba has said Bayern Munich‘s new youth development facilities will help the club achieve its goal of providing a platform for young players this season.

The 26-year-old has been with Bayern for the last ten years, a period during which the German giants have won seven Bundesliga titles and Alaba has been named Austrian Footballer of the Year six times.

Bayern won a sixth successive top-flight title last term, and Alaba, who made 23 appearances and scored two goals, was one of four Bavarian academy graduates in the squad last term – along with Sandro Wagner,  Mats Hummels and Thomas Muller.

But the versatile defender insists the club is building for the future in a bid to promote more young players to the first team.

“I think this is the goal of the club, FC Bayern Munich. They just built a big campus in Munich for young players,” Alaba told Goal.

“I was the last young player, and it’s been a long time now, but I think we’re in a good way to try and put young players in this position where I am now. We have a lot of potential in the young players. You can see it on the pitch during training, also during games, that they’re doing very well.

“But, the step up to the first team is very high, so it’s not easy. I think they’re doing their best, and you can see the coach trying to talk to them a lot, trying to give them some tips to improve themselves. We’ll see, but I think we’re going in the right direction.”

A fresh approach

Bayern will be under new management in 2018/19 with former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Niko Kovac taking over from Jupp Heynckes in the dugout.

And Alaba believes he and his teammates can profit from Kovac’s fresh philosophy in time.

“You can feel the experience he has as a player and also as a manager now. He tries to bring his philosophy to our team now,” said Alaba. “Of course, it needs time, but he has a lot of experience especially as a player and also now as a manager.

“Our training is hard, but it’s very effective. We have a really good atmosphere in the team and on the pitch. He’s talking to the players a lot and giving us his trust and good feelings.”

Bayern’s season kicks off with a German Super Cup clash against Frankfurt before their first Bundesliga outing against Hoffenheim later in August.

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