Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard: "I don't mind what position I play"
Bayern Munich newcomer Benjamin Pavard has revealed he does not mind where he plays as long as he can do his bit for the team.
Pavard, 23, officially joined Bayern from relegated VfB Stuttgart on 1 July 2019.
He has spent most of his senior career to date operating at centre-back, but won the 2018 FIFA World Cup as France's first-choice right-back and has also played in defensive midfield.
Encouragingly for new coach Niko Kovac, the Frenchman says he does not have a preference.
"I don't mind where I play," Pavard told Munich-based broadcaster Sport1 ahead of Bayern's International Champions Cup meeting with AC Milan in Kansas City.
"I put myself at the service of the team and play where the coach wants me to. I'm just happy when I play."
Watch: Take a closer look at what Benjamin Pavard will bring to Bayern
Pavard got his first chance to impress Kovac in the recent pre-season defeat to Arsenal. The former Lille youngster lined up at centre-back in the second half of the match in Los Angeles, before being deployed on the right-hand side of the back four for 45 minutes of the 3-1 win over Real Madrid.
Kovac says he likes what he has seen of Pavard so far, even if it gives him another selection headache to solve, with David Alaba, Jerome Boateng, Lucas Hernandez, Joshua Kimmich, Javi Martinez and Niklas Süle among the raft of defensive alternatives at his disposal.
"It's clear that Pavard didn't win the World Cup by chance," Kovac explained. "In his positions, it won't be easy to decide who plays where and when."
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After taking on Milan, Bayern return home to Munich, where they will compete in the pre-season Audi Cup alongside Real, beaten 2018/19 UEFA Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur and Turkey's Fenerbahce (30-31 July).
Bayern begin their competitive campaign away to Borussia Dortmund in the DFL Supercup on 3 August, before travelling to Bundesliga 2 outfit Energie Cottbus in the DFB Cup first round (12 August).
Chasing a record-extending eighth successive Bundesliga title, FCB play host to Hertha Berlin in the opening fixture of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season on 16 August.
Having experienced promotion to and relegation from the Bundesliga in two of his three seasons with Stuttgart, Pavard is relishing the challenge of making the step up and representing Germany's most successful club.
"It's a massive club that's used to winning titles," he said. "We know that people start talking about a 'mini-crisis' if we lose one or two games, but I'm not worried.
"We have a fantastic team and a good atmosphere in the camp."
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