Heynckes thrilled with Bayern

Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes reckons his side played better football in the first half of the season than ever before.

The Bavarians, currently in training during the Bundesliga's winter break, are nine points clear at the top of the table after 13 wins and three draws from their opening 17 league games.

Bayern are also through to the last 16 of the Champions League and still in the DFB-Pokal as they look to end two years without a trophy.

Heynckes told Bild: "I would say that Bayern has not played such modern, attractive football in their entire history.

"I have now been at Bayern for one and a half years and I think that you can also now see that things with my coaching team and the players are bearing fruit.

"How the team played in the first half of the season, easy on the eye going forward but with plenty of commitment and discipline at the back, that was exceptional football."