SOCCER-CHAMPIONS-ARS-FCB/BAYERN Bayern coach warns a strong Arsenal lay ahead in Champions League match

Record ID: 136124

  • Title: SOCCER-CHAMPIONS-ARS-FCB/BAYERN Bayern coach warns a strong Arsenal lay ahead in Champions League match
  • Date: 19th October 2015
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (OCTOBER 19, 2015) (REUTERS) PAN ACROSS STADIUM TO PLAYERS TRAINING BAYERN MUNICH COACH PEP GUARDIOLA TALKING TO ASSISTANT STRIKER ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI PAN UP FROM LEWANDOWSKI'S FEET (SOUNDBITE) (English) PEP GUARDIOLA, BAYERN MUNICH MANAGER, SAYING: "In the situation they have an advantage because for them they have to win. When that happens with these k
  • Embargoed: 3rd November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6O6OTQ0X4HFRH8LE0W4JFJI09
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola said on Monday (October 19) although Arsenal have lost their first two games they will have the advantage when the teams meet in their Champions League Group F match in north London.
    Bayern top the group with six points but Guardiola expects the Gunners to fight intensely when the teams meet at the Emirates on Tuesday (October 20).
    "In the situation they have an advantage because for them they have to win. When that happens with these kind of players at this kind of club with its history they are going to make the best performance as possible. So I cannot expect a team that don't fight 90 minutes, fight between each other, in the situation they have an advantage because we cannot compete about that for this situation," said the Spaniard.
    "I prefer my situation obviously, no doubt about that, I prefer to come here with six points but I can imagine my team with zero points against Arsenal in Allianz Arena in Deutschland (Germany), how would the mentality of my team be, I know really well my players and their mentality and we would be animals, and aggressive, because it's the last chance."
    Free-scoring striker Robert Lewandowski will be looking to keep the goals flowing, the Pole has scored 22 for club and country this season, including 15 in his last seven matches.
    He failed to find the net in Bayern's 1-0 win over Werder Bremen on Saturday (October 17) but has not gone two matches without scoring all season.
    "Well, at the moment he's fantastic, no doubt about that, the numbers have been absolutely unbelievable so far this season. But it's not just the goals it's the work, he's a great team player, he likes to help us not just attacking, defending as well," said midfielder Xabi Alonso.
    Even if he does have an off-day, Arsenal will have Thomas Mueller to worry about after his 15 goals so far this season.
    Bayern were made to work hard for their win at the weekend and Guardiola worried that they may not be at their peak on Tuesday.
    "Two weeks ago it was really good but the last game we didn't play so well, if we're going to play that way we aren't going to reach our objectives. A week before that we would have been in a much better shape for the match tomorrow than we are today actually," said the former Barcelona manager.
    Thomas Mueller is also expecting a tough game.
    "Of course Arsenal have zero points and are under huge pressure so I can't really speak of a clear favourite in this game, especially away to Arsenal here, I really doubt that we are favourites."
    "But of course our stats in the last weeks and months have been great and we have a lot of confidence, but Arsenal do have quality and they have shown it in the last few weeks that they are having a great run. It will be a tight game but it should be a good game to watch and hopefully with a better result for us."
    Bayern top the group with six points. Olympiakos Piraeus, who won 3-2 at Arsenal three weeks ago, have three, as do Dinamo Zagreb, while Arsenal have none.
    If Bayern win they are likely to seal their place in the last 16 with half their group matches to spare. If Arsenal lose, it is difficult to see them qualifying and they cannot afford to drop any more points when Bayern visit for the third time in four seasons.
    In four Champions League visits since Dec. 2000 Bayern have lost only once, in March 2005, though they still won that round-of-16 tie 3-2 on aggregate.
    They now come back in stellar form, having set a league record of nine successive wins from the start of the season when they beat Werder Bremen 1-0 on Saturday, their 12th successive win in all competitions.
    Despite already having several injured players, including defenders Medhi Benatia and Holger Badstuber, as well as Franck Ribery and Mario Goetze, coach Pep Guardiola rested Douglas Costa and Javi Martinez ahead of the trip to London.
    Winger Arjen Robben failed to recover from a groin injury in time to depart with the team on Sunday.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register