Heynckes out to hit ground running

Jupp Heynckes wants his Bundesliga-leading Bayern Munich side to make a fast start when the German domestic season resumes this weekend.

Bayern are away to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday – the first match in the top flight since December 18.

Bavarian giants Bayern have enjoyed friendly victories over Al Sailiya, Al Ahly and Rot-Weiss Erfurt in an attempt to maintain match fitness during the mid-season break.

And echoing comments made by club captain Philipp Lahm on Tuesday, Heynckes wants his team to resume their campaign in the best manner possible when they run out at Borussia-Park.

“We’ve trained a lot, in between a few flights,” Heynckes said.

“I have to say that I’ve been very pleased with the entirety of the team’s preparation.”

“But I must also add something that the captain Philipp Lahm also said in an interview, which I, in my years of experience as a player and a manager, have also come to believe.”

“And that is that there is nothing more important than the first match back.”

“It starts to get serious again from this point onwards, this is where it becomes competitive and where we need to start getting the points again.”

Bayern top the Bundesliga by three points from reigning champions Borussia Dortmund.

Third-placed Schalke are level with Dortmund, while Moenchengladbach are a point further back in fourth.