Olic stars as Bayern storms into final
Source: Agencies |
April 29, 2010, Thursday
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WINGERS Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben usually carry Bayern Munich's attacking threat but the German side can now add the energetic Ivica Olic to its list of potential match-winners.
The Croatia striker scored a hat-trick as Bayern thrashed Olympique Lyon 3-0 away on Tuesday to book a place in next month's Champions League final 4-0 on aggregate.
Olic, who became only the second player to net a hat-trick in a Champions League semifinal after Alessandro Del Piero's treble for Juventus against Monaco in 1998, pointed at his bleeding head after netting the third with a header despite a deep gash.
"I didn't want to be substituted because I had the feeling I could score another couple," he told reporters after he took his tally to seven goals in the Champions League this season, just one behind top scorer Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
Bayern will play either Barcelona or Inter Milan at Madrid's Bernabeu stadium in the final on May 22.
"The first goal was the most important because then they had to score three goals to get further and that's not very easy," Olic said. "Then I just did the second and the third, you can't get better than that. It was a dream," said Olic.
The 30-year-old striker, who joined Bayern on a free transfer from Hamburg SV, has already scored goals in his first season with the four-time European champion. He netted Bayern's first at Old Trafford to spark the German's comeback after it trailed 0-3 against Manchester United in the previous round.
"Scoring three goals in such a game is outstanding... I thought the game against Manchester United was the match of my life but this one was even better, the team made it easy for me," he said.
His coach and teammates were full of praise for his fighting spirit.
"He scored three but his discipline was also fantastic tonight. We know we can always count on him," coach Louis van Gaal told reporters.
Former Real Madrid and Chelsea winger Robben praised Olic's performance.
"What I like about him is that he always gives more than 100 percent in every game. He keeps running and sometime you have to stop him. He's so energetic, a great player and very important for us," Robben said.
Following an inconsistent start, Van Gaal, who arrived at Bayern during the close season, has made a strong impact at the German club.
"The players now know what it's like to spend 10 months with Van Gaal, they know it's not easy but they're happy now and so am I," he said.
The former Ajax coach wants to face Inter Milan in the final.
"I think we are more likely to play Inter and that would give me the opportunity to have a press conference with my friend Jose Mourinho," he said. Inter Milan coach Mourinho was an assistant coach at Barcelona when Van Gaal was manager from 1997-2000.
Lyon finished the game with 10 men after centerback Cris was sent off just before the hour.
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