Van Buyten ready to fight for his spot
20 July 2012 08:45
Bayern Munich defender Daniel van Buyten says competition for places is important as the team look to end their silverware drought.
Bayern lost out on the Bundesliga title to Borussia Dortmund for the second successive season last term.
They also lost to Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final, and suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League decider at their own Allianz Arena stadium.
Bayern's last significant trophies arrived in 2009/10, and the club have begun strengthening in the off season in a bid to break Dortmund's stranglehold on domestic honours.
Among the new recruits is centre-back Dante, who is likely to rival Van Buyten for a place in the first team.
Belgian Van Buyten, 34, is preparing for his seventh season in Bavaria, and is no stranger to fighting for a starting role.
"Competition is always important," he said.
"I am not scared of that. I am here and I will do my best. Eventually the coach has to decide.
"We had one year where we simply won nothing and that's desperately disappointing for me. So sometimes players have to sit on the bench and others will play.
"The most important thing for me is to win titles. We have to achieve our goals."
Another important acquisition is Croatia international Mario Mandzukic, brought in from Wolfsburg after impressing at Euro 2012.
"I haven't played against him that much so far," Van Buyten said of his new team-mate.
"But I know that he runs a lot and that he is extremely strong in the air.
"Also he is a very intelligent player. So I think he definitely will help us in the upcoming season. But to get to know him better, I have to train more with him. Then I can tell."
