Rummenigge: As a fan, I think the new Champions League is more exciting, and the giants dare not relax in the league stage.

The Champions League this season will start from tonight. Former Bayern's chairman Rummenigge was interviewed by Deutsche News Agency before the game, in which he expressed his recognition of the reform of the group stage system.

Rumenig believes that the new UEFA Champions League league system is a "significant improvement" from a tense and exciting perspective. At the same time, he also expects that some of Europe's top teams will learn lessons and take different approaches during the league stage of the second post-reform tournament.

Rummeniger: "Under the old group match system, everything is often settled after the fourth round of group matches. Bayern Munich often qualifies early, and then there are one or two irrelevant games."

"I think here from the perspective of the fans. In the first match of the new match system, the four top teams, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, all have to play the playoffs. Just this fact is proof to me, showing that this system is much more exciting."

Bayern ranked only 12th in the Champions League stage last season, and Rummeniger emphasized: "And the giants have understood that they must go all out from the beginning and strive to enter the top eight - because that is everyone's goal."

Rummenigge said: "A year ago, a lot of things were new, and some top clubs were relatively relaxed in their attitude towards certain games. I am now looking forward to a clear learning effect. For fans, the current league stage will be more passionate, and they will keep looking at their phones: Where is Bayern ranked? Where is Real Madrid ranked? UEFA did make a trick this time."

Bayern's first Champions League opponent this season will be Chelsea, and will play at home on Wednesday night. Team forward Kane also agrees with Rummenigg's point of view: "It's important to get into the top eight. Because the extra games in the play-offs may change the whole season. Last year we got into a tough thing because of the extra games against the Celtics. At that time, we also lost several players due to injuries."

Kane's prediction for direct promotion is this: "In the eight league stages, the team may have to win six games", or win five games and add some draws.

In the first Champions League restructuring match last season, the final eighth-place scored 16 points, while Bayern only scored 15 points after five wins - which is too few for direct promotion.