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Bayern sets sights on elusive final victory
Source: Agencies |
February 21, 2013, Thursday
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BAYERN Munich's sparkling 3-1 victory at Arsenal in their Champions League round of 16 first leg on Tuesday confirmed the German side's focus is firmly set on making amends for two final defeats in the last three years.
Bayern will be hoping its trip to London was not the last this season with the Champions League final being held in the English capital in May.
"This was a superb performance, a top game from us," Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said early yesterday as the team gathered in their London hotel. "Although we still have to have a lot of respect for the second leg in March.
"But we have taken a big step. If we do not get distracted - and I believe we will not - then this could be a long run we have ahead of us."
Where other teams may have buckled under the weight of unfulfilled expectations after losing finals in Madrid in 2010 and more importantly last year in its home stadium, Bayern looks to have become even stronger.
A string of good transfers in the offseason, including holding midfielder Javi Martinez, who has formed an efficient partnership with Bastian Schweinsteiger, and top-scorer Mario Mandzukic have added considerable depth to its squad.
It has now won all six of its games this year, dominating each one from the start. With a 15-point cushion in the league and the domestic title all but sewn up, Bayern has the luxury of switching its focus to winning the European title for the first time since 2001.
"Obviously we are getting more and more confident but we still need to win every game," Rummenigge said.
With only one goal conceded in its last six games and its two-season title drought seemingly set to end in May, Bayern looks well-equipped for the return leg on March 13. "This was a texbook performance in the first half. I have not seen a Bayern team that has played as good as we did in the first half-hour," club boss Uli Hoeness said as he heaped praise on his players.
Germany internationals Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller did the early damage with goals in the opening 21 minutes before Mandzukic sealed victory by bundling in a third in the 77th at the Emirates Stadium.
Former Bayern forward Lukas Podolski had given Arsenal hope by making it 2-1 in the 55th but Bayern was well worth the win, and should have scored more in an embarrassingly one-sided first half where the visitors cut through their defensively inept opponents at will.
Bayern will be hoping its trip to London was not the last this season with the Champions League final being held in the English capital in May.
"This was a superb performance, a top game from us," Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said early yesterday as the team gathered in their London hotel. "Although we still have to have a lot of respect for the second leg in March.
"But we have taken a big step. If we do not get distracted - and I believe we will not - then this could be a long run we have ahead of us."
Where other teams may have buckled under the weight of unfulfilled expectations after losing finals in Madrid in 2010 and more importantly last year in its home stadium, Bayern looks to have become even stronger.
A string of good transfers in the offseason, including holding midfielder Javi Martinez, who has formed an efficient partnership with Bastian Schweinsteiger, and top-scorer Mario Mandzukic have added considerable depth to its squad.
It has now won all six of its games this year, dominating each one from the start. With a 15-point cushion in the league and the domestic title all but sewn up, Bayern has the luxury of switching its focus to winning the European title for the first time since 2001.
"Obviously we are getting more and more confident but we still need to win every game," Rummenigge said.
With only one goal conceded in its last six games and its two-season title drought seemingly set to end in May, Bayern looks well-equipped for the return leg on March 13. "This was a texbook performance in the first half. I have not seen a Bayern team that has played as good as we did in the first half-hour," club boss Uli Hoeness said as he heaped praise on his players.
Germany internationals Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller did the early damage with goals in the opening 21 minutes before Mandzukic sealed victory by bundling in a third in the 77th at the Emirates Stadium.
Former Bayern forward Lukas Podolski had given Arsenal hope by making it 2-1 in the 55th but Bayern was well worth the win, and should have scored more in an embarrassingly one-sided first half where the visitors cut through their defensively inept opponents at will.
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