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Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm has praised Carlo Ancelotti as "a very likeable person" after the Italian led his first training sessions since replacing Pep Guardiola. Ancelotti, 57, began his reign at the Allianz Arena with a news conference and a first training session on Monday, and on Saturday will take charge of his first game when Bayern travel to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's hometown club Lippstadt for a friendly. Against fifth-tier side Lippstadt, as in the first training sessions, Bayern will be without those players who participated in Euro 2016 as well as Chile international Arturo Vidal. Lahm, though, will be on board as he prepares for the penultimate season of his career. The 32-year-old right-back spent the summer away from football after his retirement from the Germany national team in 2014. "It was a lovely time with my family," Lahm told Bayern's official website, adding that he followed all Germany's games in France "from kick-off to the final whistle" and wearing a shirt signed by all the Bayern players away on international duty. On Monday, Lahm met Ancelotti and said he developed a "very, very positive impression" of the former AC Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid coach. "He's an experienced coach who's won very, very many titles," he said. "A very likeable person." Later this month, Bayern will embark on their second tour of the United States in only three summers. However, the club will be without a host of star players, who have been allowed a longer rest following the European Championship. According to kicker, Germany internationals Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer and Jerome Boateng have all been told they do not need to join the U.S. tour, where Bayern will play Inter Milan, AC Milan and Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup. Should fellow Germany international Mario Gotze remain at the club, he will also be allowed to stay behind and join up with the Bayern squad on Aug. 5. However, kicker reports that it is likely the former Borussia Dortmund player will leave the Allianz Arena this summer. Citing an unnamed source, kicker said that Bayern received "clear signals" from Gotze that he wants to play football again and seek a fresh beginning at a different club. The Germany international is under contract at Bayern until 2017, and earlier this summer vowed to fight for his place in Ancelotti's squad.
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