Bayern Munich's Spanish midfield duo Xabi Alonso and Thiago are both fit for the season-opener and Renato Sanches is in line for a surprise debut as Carlo Ancelotti takes charge of the Bavarian giants for the first time in the Bundesliga against Werder Bremen on Friday.
"Alonso and Thiago are fit, ready and can play," Ancelotti told his first Bundesliga prematch news conference on Thursday.
And Ancelotti also said that Portuguese starlet Renato Sanches, 19, could make his long-awaited debut for the Bavarian giants after a quicker-than-expected recovery from a thigh injury.
"He started training this week and he's ready, but he'll be on the bench tomorrow," the former Real Madrid coach said.
"#Alonso & #Thiago could play," says @MrAncelotti. #Sanches will be in the squad, but starting on the bench. #FCBSVW pic.twitter.com/aAAxfeEr4l
- FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) August 25, 2016
Bayern's new boss also had some positive news about injured winger Arjen Robben, who limped off after 30 minutes of Bayern's opening preseason friendly at Lippstadt last month after aggravating a long-standing groin problem.
"He's recovering well at the moment and he'll be ready to play after the international break," Ancelotti said.
Robben's attacking cohort Thomas Muller was often rotated and used in wide positions by Ancelotti's predecessor Pep Guardiola. However, the Catalan's successor has his own definite ideas of how the German forward will fit into his side.
"In my opinion he's not a winger, despite being talented and intelligent enough to play there as he moves really well without the ball," Ancelotti said. "I know that he's not a winger and he's not going to play there. He'll play in a good position for him and the team."
And when asked "how much Ancelotti is there in this team?" Ancelotti said that he's already stamped his mark on the side.
"It's already 100 percent and I'm trying to do my best to help the players improve.
"I don't want a revolution. Bayern achieved a lot of good things during the past years -- I can build on these but there's a lot I want to keep.
"I want to do a few things differently, perhaps play a little more vertically so that we get the ball forward quicker."