Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich 'labour' to 4-0 win against minnows Rostock
France winger Franck Ribery has described the new system as "pretty strange, totally different from what we're used to" and Bayern have used it in winning all six of their pre-season friendlies, albeit against low-level opposition.
Bayern Munich laboured to a 4-0 win at German third division minnows Hansa Rostock in Sunday's benefit friendly as the European champions continue to adapt to coach Pep Guardiola's new system.
Bayern, who beat Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at Wembley in May's Champions League final, won the treble of European, league and cup titles last season playing a conventional 4-2-3-1 formation under coach Jupp Heynckes.
Ex-Barcelona boss Guardiola, who won 14 titles in four years at the Camp Nou, succeeded Heynckes last month and has introduced a 4-1-4-1 formation, which the Bavarian giants are still adapting to.
France winger Franck Ribery has described the new system as "pretty strange, totally different from what we're used to" and Bayern have used it in winning all six of their pre-season friendlies, albeit against low-level opposition.
"The players are intelligent, they won three titles last season, but it takes time to bring in a new system," said Guardiola, whose side also beat regional Bavarian side SG Sonnenhof 6-0 on Saturday.
"The second half wasn't so good, but we have some big tests ahead of us, especially with the BVB (Borussia Dortmund) final and the start of the Bundesliga."
Bayern play Dortmund in the German Super Cup final on July 27 with the Bundesliga to resume on August 9, while Guardiola's team also play in a four-team tournament, which includes Dortmund, in Moenchengladbach next weekend.
Guardiola is still missing several stars including Brazil's Dante, Germany midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Goetze, plus Spain's Javi Martinez, who are either recovering from injury or resting after Confederations Cup duty.
Against cash-strapped Rostock, who took the entire gate revenue to help them recover from near bankruptcy last season, Bayern captain Philipp Lahm found himself switched from his customary right-back into the midfield.
He reverted back to defence in the second half having put the Champions League winners ahead from a Ribery cross on 20 minutes, before the Frenchman added the second five minutes later.
Bayern laboured to threaten the Rostock goal before Thomas Mueller added the third 15 minutes from time before Mario Mandzukic scored the fourth with two minutes left.