After wrapping up the Bundesliga title “the Champions League is all that matters now”, according to Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller ahead of his side’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match away to Manchester United this evening (from 20:45, live on Sky). Coach Pep Guardiola described the encounter as the Bavarians’ “first final” en route to defending their treble and demanded maximum concentration from his players.
“It’s an exciting time and we know there will be two difficult games,” said club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge prior to the team’s flight on Monday afternoon. The fact that Manchester United have been struggling domestically under new manager David Moyes is of little significance to Rummenigge, who likened the hosts to a “wounded boxer”, a condition that makes them all the more dangerous: “Obviously we’re heading into the game full of confidence but also with a great deal of respect.”
Sporting director Matthias Sammer was keen to emphasise that “the really important games start now”. Guardiola appears to share that opinion, with Germany and Bayern captain Philipp Lahm revealing after the team’s 3-3 draw with Hoffenheim on Saturday that preparations for tonight’s match had begun “on Friday”.
Guardiola wary of hosts
Guardiola must make do without Dante, who is suspended, and another of his preferred first-team regulars, Thiago, who was injured at the weekend. The Spaniard is likely to miss the remainder of the season and his absence has hit his coach hard, with Guardiola commenting: “We’re not as strong without him.” Given that backdrop, the Bayern strategist was eager to urge caution in Manchester.
While the Red Devils may only be seventh in the Premier League standings, and will be without injured striker Robin van Persie and suspended defender Patrice Evra, as well as enduring sections of the Old Trafford support voicing criticism of Moyes, Bayern will not be lulled into a false sense of security.
“We’re playing in the Champions League quarter-finals against a big team that are having some day-to-day problems,” said Sammer. “But the Champions League is not an everyday competition. We can’t allow ourselves to be distracted by all this silly talk. Their players are capable of producing special performances on special occasions.” Müller agreed: “Despite what a lot of people think, we haven’t been given a bye.”
Rummenigge recalls 2012 final
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After wrapping up the Bundesliga title “the Champions League is all that matters now”, according to Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller ahead of his side’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match away to Manchester United this evening (from 20:45, live on Sky). Coach Pep Guardiola described the encounter as the Bavarians’ “first final” en route to defending their treble and demanded maximum concentration from his players.
“It’s an exciting time and we know there will be two difficult games,” said club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge prior to the team’s flight on Monday afternoon. The fact that Manchester United have been struggling domestically under new manager David Moyes is of little significance to Rummenigge, who likened the hosts to a “wounded boxer”, a condition that makes them all the more dangerous: “Obviously we’re heading into the game full of confidence but also with a great deal of respect.”
Sporting director Matthias Sammer was keen to emphasise that “the really important games start now”. Guardiola appears to share that opinion, with Germany and Bayern captain Philipp Lahm revealing after the team’s 3-3 draw with Hoffenheim on Saturday that preparations for tonight’s match had begun “on Friday”.
Guardiola wary of hosts
Guardiola must make do without Dante, who is suspended, and another of his preferred first-team regulars, Thiago, who was injured at the weekend. The Spaniard is likely to miss the remainder of the season and his absence has hit his coach hard, with Guardiola commenting: “We’re not as strong without him.” Given that backdrop, the Bayern strategist was eager to urge caution in Manchester.
While the Red Devils may only be seventh in the Premier League standings, and will be without injured striker Robin van Persie and suspended defender Patrice Evra, as well as enduring sections of the Old Trafford support voicing criticism of Moyes, Bayern will not be lulled into a false sense of security.
“We’re playing in the Champions League quarter-finals against a big team that are having some day-to-day problems,” said Sammer. “But the Champions League is not an everyday competition. We can’t allow ourselves to be distracted by all this silly talk. Their players are capable of producing special performances on special occasions.” Müller agreed: “Despite what a lot of people think, we haven’t been given a bye.”
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Rummenigge recalls 2012 final
To further underline Bayern’s desire to avoid complacency, Rummenigge drew on historical precedents where favourites had been beaten. He cited the ‘home’ 2012 Champions League final, where an unfancied Chelsea side won the title despite only finishing sixth domestically, and also recalled the 1975 European Cup final in which Bayern got the better of Leeds United while tenth in the Bundesliga.
“We know from our own experience what wounded teams are capable of,” Rummenigge said. “Once kick-off comes around, league positions don’t matter anymore. We are playing against the English champions.” Guardiola accepted that Manchester United have had difficulties this term but is nonetheless on guard: “They have played in thousands, millions of finals and know exactly what’s required. There will be two very difficult games and we have to earn the right to be in the semi-finals.”
That will require performances vastly different to the one Bayern put on against Hoffenheim. The possession-based game which is such a crucial part of Guardiola’s template for success was lacking on Saturday, a fact that seemed to cause the coach physical discomfort as he described that match as going “back and forth, back and forth”. A repeat display will not be permitted at Old Trafford, with Sammer warning: “We mustn’t lose our shape.” A player like Thiago would have been just the person to ensure that did not happen…
