This archive report was first published on 11 May 2020.
Bayern Munich's David Alaba says the team is 'hungry' to return to full-team training ahead of the Bundesliga's restart behind closed doors.
On May 11, 2020, the German top flight resumes after the season was suspended in mid-March to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Bayern coach Hansi Flick has been putting his players through their paces in training sessions at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern, who were four points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund in their bid for an eighth straight Bundesliga title when football was halted, restart their season at Union Berlin on Sunday.
Alaba expressed his excitement about the team's return to full-team training, saying, 'It was really very, very nice to be back on the pitch, training as a whole team. You could tell how much we have all looked forward to this moment. You could feel that in training, everyone was hungry — and looking forward to the first game.'
Chancellor Angela Merkel approved the league's plan to restart with regular testing of players and strict hygiene measures in place.
However, Bundesliga CEO Christian Seifert has warned clubs they are 'on probation' because of fears an outbreak of the virus in the competition could again see the season suspended.
RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann is hoping his side can treat the remainder of the campaign as a mini-tournament to help them rekindle their title challenge.
Nagelsmann said, 'The whole situation is like before a tournament: we all had a short break, then a relaxed phase and now an intense preparation.'
He emphasized the importance of obeying the hygiene regulations, saying, 'You don't have to have studied nuclear physics to understand that it is advisable to stick to the rules.'
