OFFENBACH - Germany coach Joachim Loew the quality of
the Bundesliga improved in the first half of the season.
"With some team you can see a playing improvement, that they have
changed their style," he said in comments ahead of the resumption of
the German league this weekend.
"Overall, there were more games in the first half of the season at a
level where you could say they were very good and that's how you see
games internationally."
Last year Loew had on a number of occasions expressed concern about
the level of the domestic game.
The league begins its second half following the winter break when
fifth-placed Schalke meet second-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach on
Friday.
Loew, speaking at the New Year's reception of the German Football
League (DFL) in Offenbach, praised the coaches of both sides,
Schalke's David Wagner and Gladbach's Marco Rose.
"The coaches who are now with teams like Gladbach or Schalke have
certainly brought in new aspects," he said.
"With some teams you see more courage to work with ball, looking at
opportunities to get forward."
While there were teams who tried to manage games to avoid defeats
there were "positive trends" with teams who wanted to take the game
to their opponents, he added.
In the league's main programme on Saturday, leaders RB Leipzig greet
Union Berlin, while on Sunday champions Bayern Munich, four points
behind Leipzig in third place, travel to Hertha Berlin.