Sammer sets out Bayern targets

New Bayern Munich director of sport Matthias Sammer has vowed to bring immediate success to the Alliance Arena.

After a season of close misses the former European Footballer of the Year was on Monday brought in to replace the sacked Christian Nerlinger.

Bayern finished second behind Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal last term, before their heartbreaking Champions League final defeat to Chelsea on penalties.

Sammer, who led Dortmund to the title in 2002, today met the players as they returned for pre-season training before telling the media he will not accept second-best this time around.

"We want to be, must be and will be successful straight away," he said.

"Self-pity or vanity cannot play a role. With the first team we don't have any time at all."

Sammer left his role as technical director with the German Football Association (DFB) to join the record German champions.

DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach yesterday revealed his regret at the departure of Sammer, who had worked with the national team since 2006, but the 44-year-old said he could not turn down a club of Bayern's stature.

"Bayern Munich is a top club in Germany, Europe and the world," Sammer told FCB.tv.

"If you're offered the opportunity to work for this club, you don't think it over. It's extremely appealing and I feel honoured.

"Wolfgang Niersbach was very closely involved in bringing me to the DFB in the first place. He was an essential factor, both professionally and for me personally.

"That hasn't changed, and our relationship is very friendly.

"We settled everything relatively quickly once I called him. Wolfgang Niersbach is a sensitive judge of a situation and knew I really wanted to take the new job."

Sammer believes his arrival will create a "fresh start" for Bayern and help them to forget the pain of last season as he plots their immediate future alongside manager Jupp Heynckes.

"I'll tackle the task with the necessary modesty and a touch of humility," he added.

"However, we need the sense of a fresh start. It won't be particularly easy for the players after what happened last season.

"It wasn't a bad season, but it lacked a certain something. After all, Bayern aim for the very highest standards, so we have to hit the ground running with the players who are here.

"And that's the standard I'm setting myself too."