Bayern Munich vs Wolfsburg - Ancelotti taking nothing for granted ahead of Wolfsburg test
Posted Thursday, September 21, 2017 by PA
Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti is wary of Wolfsburg ahead of Friday night's Bundesliga clash.
Ancelotti's men have scored 10 goals in three matches without reply after Tuesday night's 3-0 win at Schalke.
But the Italian is taking nothing for granted, with Thiago Alcantara joining Manuel Neuer, Juan Bernat and David Alaba in being unavailable.
Ancelotti told a press conference on Thursday: "We're in a good moment. Of course, we want to win to continue the run. But we'll have to be on our toes.
"It will be difficult. They have a new coach (Martin Schmidt). And teams are always motivated after a change of coaches. It will be the same again (on Friday)."
Ancelotti made six changes for Tuesday's trip to Schalke, but Bayern still ran out 3-0 winners.
Goalkeeper Sven Ulreich played and will continue against Wolfsburg as Neuer is out until January with a foot injury, which he suffered in training on Monday and required surgery.
Arjen Robben is available again after illness, while Thiago and Alaba could return for next Wednesday's Champions League clash at Paris St Germain, one of Ancelotti's former clubs.
Ulreich insisted no-one at Bayern, who lost at Hoffenheim in the third round of Bundesliga games, would be thinking of PSG.
"We have to be fully focused and completely forget about Paris," Ulreich said.
"If we can produce a repeat of the good performance against Schalke at home on Friday then I'm sure we'll get a result. But only if we put in 100 per cent."
Ancelotti plans to rotate his options once again.
He added: "The most important game at the moment is against Wolfsburg. After that we have five days to prepare for the game against PSG."
James Rodriguez impressed in a man-of-the-match showing against Schalke, which included his first Bayern goal.
The Colombia forward reckons he will keep improving.
James said: "You feel relieved when you score your first goal. I always want to help the team by scoring and setting up goals.
"I feel good but I still think I have a way to go. That will come gradually with each game."
Bayern's academy goalkeeping coordinator Tom Starke has come out of retirement after Neuer's injury and will be third choice.
Wolfsburg drew 1-1 with Werder Bremen in the first game since Martin Schmidt's appointment as boss.
They will be hoping to build on the promising start.
Schmidt said: "We want to see a chance right from the outset. Everyone knows how difficult a game it's going to be.
"When the game begins, we'll have one point - that's something we must fight for.
"The attitude and performance have been good thus far, but there are a lot of things we need to work on."
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