Sebastian Rudy, Niklas Süle set for challenge with Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich’s Sebastian Rudy and Niklas Süle participated in their first training session on Saturday. On Sunday afternoon, the former Hoffenheim players were presented to the national media.

Süle has the likes of Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, and Javi Martinez to contend with in central defense. The 21-year-old addressed his situation at his and Rudy’s official presentation yesterday:

There’s nothing better for me as a young player than learning from the best in the world. It’s a massive task for me to pressure the boys, to soak up as much as I can from them and try to get game time.

ESPNFC’s Stephan Uersfeld highlighted the injury history of Boateng, Hummels, and Martinez as a good reason for signing the youngster. Süle, however, has an injury history of his own, having torn his anterior cruciate ligament two years ago.

As for the 27-year-old Rudy, the defensive midfielder and sometime right-back declared his readiness to grow with the Bundesliga champions:

Niki and I know what we're capable of, otherwise we wouldn’t come here. I want to continue to improve, grow as a person and push myself. I think we have good competition for places here and that means we’re all pushing ourselves and have to perform at our best.

Although the position where he feels “most comfortable” has been vacated by Xabi Alonso, Rudy still faces stiff competition from Arturo Vidal, Corentin Tolisso and Renato Sanches for playing time.

Carlo Ancelotti stated that the new additions will make his team more competitive in the coming season.

We're confident they will improve us and will make us more competitive. They're both young players with a lot of confidence. I'm sure they'll have a great season.

The manager told fcbayern.com that he believes the duo are able to feature in the Audi Cup matches on Tuesday and Wednesday in Munich, despite their late arrival for preseason training following Germany’s win at the FIFA Confederations Cup.