Bayern still a work in progress with Bundesliga season set to start

BERLIN: Champions Bayern Munich are still a work in progress for coach Thomas Tuchel with their Bundesliga title defence starting on Friday (Aug 18) against Werder Bremen.

The Bavarians have won the last 11 consecutive league crowns but they needed a Borussia Dortmund slip-up on the final matchday last season to retain it.

Plagued by defensive errors and a low conversion rate in attack since last year's departure of striker Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona, Bayern look to have carried these ailments into the new season.

A 3-0 loss to RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup at home on Saturday left Tuchel, who took over from Julian Nagelsmann late last season, fuming.

"It looks as if we have done no work in the four weeks. I just can't explain it," the coach said, referring to pre-season preparation.

Bayern are still lacking a world-class keeper with Manuel Neuer, recovering from a broken leg he got while skiing in December, still with no comeback date and no top keeper signed for the new season.

A holding midfielder in the six position is the other hole that Tuchel wants to fill before the end of the transfer window.

Bayern signed defender Kim Min-jae from Napoli for €50 million (US$54.4 million) to plug those defensive leaks.

As for goals, Tuchel is confident England captain Harry Kane, brought in from Tottenham Hotspur for a league record €100 million, will start improving his team's scoring and conversion rate for a winning start.

Kane's German debut, with a low-key substitute appearance in the second half of their Super Cup loss, did little to dampen Bayern fans' enthusiasm and expectations.

Borussia Dortmund's pockets are nowhere near as deep with last season's runners-up having spent less than half of Bayern's transfer outlays,