Jupp Heynckes reflects on the positives he saw in Bayern Munich's 5-0 thrashing of Freiburg in his return as manager. Bayern Munich's attack fired on all cylinders with a thrashing of Freiburg in Jupp Heynckes' first game returning as coach.
MUNICH -- Jerome Boateng has told kicker he thought about leaving Bayern Munich in the summer after an injury-ravaged season.
Boateng, 29, suffered a succession of muscle injuries last season, starting only 10 games as Bayern won a fifth successive Bundesliga title under then-boss Carlo Ancelotti.
Asked why he found appearances so hard to come by with the Italian, Boateng said: "Perhaps I played so few games under him because he rarely saw me in action because of my injuries."
Boateng vowed to return for the start of preseason, but he missed the start of this campaign while still suffering the effects of a thigh injury picked up on the final day of the 2016-17 season.
Ancelotti preferred to use Spain international Javi Martinez in defence. And this summer, Bayern also added fellow German international Niklas Sule to their complement of central defenders, further intensifying competition for places at the back alongside Mats Hummels.
Jerome Boateng found appearances hard to come by under Carlo Ancelotti.
"I spoke to the bosses in the summer about my situation and I told them I was concerned," Boateng added.
The former Manchester City defender failed to make Ancelotti's Champions League squad for Bayern's 3-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last month. The Italian was removed from his post the following day, with 72-year-old Jupp Heynckes taking over as interim manager until the end of the season.
Moreover, Boateng has welcomed Heynckes' return to the club for a fourth term in charge. The Berlin-born defender was an integral member of Heynckes' side that won the treble in 2013, including a Champions League success at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund.
Boateng said: "He [Heynckes] wants to give something back to Bayern and this attitude can only be positive for us as a team. There aren't many coaches like him with such tact in handling players, who wants to improve players using his approach, training and motivation."
Bayern eased past Freiburg 5-0 at the weekend in Heynckes' first game in charge. Boateng was restored to central defence.
"He's unbelievably knowledgeable as a trainer. He's very understanding, approachable and you can talk to him about anything. It is a great advantage when you can go to the coach at any time with your problems or when you are not feeling good. That's worth its weight in gold."
Mark Lovell covers Bayern Munich for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter: @LovellLowdown.
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Source: espn.co.uk