Michael Cuisance: "I feel ready to play for Bayern Munich"
Football, it is said, is often a matter of confidence and if that is true, new Bayern Munich signing Michael Cuisance should have no problem settling at the record Bundesliga champions.
The 20-year-old French midfielder is one of six senior arrivals at Bayern this summer alongside Benjamin Pavard, Fiete Arp, Lucas Hernandez, Ivan Perisic and Philippe Coutinho.
Widely regarded as one of the most gifted youngsters in European football, he struck the right tone at his official unveiling as a Bayern player at the club's Säbener Strasse training complex.
"I'm very proud to be able to wear the Bayern shirt in the future, I know that it's a big step for me," said Cuisance, who made 35 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Mönchengladbach between 2017 and 2019 and was the Foals' Player of the Season in 2017/18.
"But I feel ready."
There is certainly no doubting his ability. The left-footed playmaker rarely loses possession, has a knack of finding useful pockets of space and also has the vision and quality to pick a pass through even the tightest of defences.
And Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic is clearly a fan. "Michael's strengths are in his possession of the ball," he told the club website. "He has a great technique, a strong left foot and a great mentality."
That will all be put to the test in the coming season as he vies for playing time alongside fellow attacking midfielders Thiago, Corentin Tolisso, Leon Goretzka, Renato Sanches, Coutinho and Thomas Müller.
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To that end, Cuisance is hoping that the presence of a number of compatriots – Pavard, Hernandez, Tolisso and Kingsley Coman - in the dressing room will also help him establish himself in Niko Kovac's side.
"For me personally it's great that a few French players are already at Bayern," he said - not that the language will be a problem given that he already speaks fluent German. "That will definitely help my integration into the team.
"It's been very positive so far. I've been welcomed very well. This is a big club, so we have to win everything."
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