Flick, on Marc Roca: “I need time to integrate it”

Hansi Flick, Bayern coach, said, according to statements to Kicker magazine published by the EFE agency, that he still needs time to integrate former Espanyol midfielder Marc Roca, who has only played the Cup match with his new club of Germany against Durren, of the Fifth Division of that country. Roca signed this past summer for the Bavarian club.

“It takes time to internalize the automatisms. He works well in training, has a very professional attitude. The situation of integrating him into the line-up has not yet occurred,” Flick said in statements collected by Kicker magazine.

“We have had few training sessions with the entire squad. There are certain things that have to be trained,” he explained.

While center-back Tanguy Nianzou is also looking forward to his Bundesliga and Champions debuts, due to a low injury, the other new signings Douglas Costa, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Bouna Sarr have already enjoyed minutes.

“Up front it's easier, because individual quality is key there,” said Flick regarding the situation of Costa and Choupo-Moting.

Sarr started as a right-back last day in the Bundesliga to give Benjamin Pavard a break.

Costa is regarded as the fourth winger – behind Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman – while Choupo-Moting's role is clear: he will only play to take minutes off Robert Lewandowski's feet when possible.

Roca's situation is different since he is a player who aspires to be a starter although the midfield – with Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Javi Martínez and Corentin Tolisso – has tough competition.