GERMANY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - As a victorious Bayern squad returns home, forward Pizarro and defender Jerome Boateng say they prefer playing against Dortmund in the semi-finals of the Champions League

Record ID: 860180

  • Title: GERMANY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - As a victorious Bayern squad returns home, forward Pizarro and defender Jerome Boateng say they prefer playing against Dortmund in the semi-finals of the Champions League
  • Date: 11th April 2013
  • Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (APRIL 11, 2013) (REUTERS) BAYERN FAN WAITING AT THE MUNICH AIRPORT FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR TEAM BAYERN LOGO AT FAN SCARF ATTACKING MIDFIELDER THOMAS MUELLER ARRIVING DEFENDER JAVI MARTINEZ SIGN AUTOGRAPH FOR CHILDREN (SOUNDBITE) (German) FORWARD CLAUDIO PIZARRO SAYING: "Yes, of course. I always try to show the best of my abilities. I hope that I can play in the semi-final, that decision lies with the coach, though. But I feel very well and I hope that I will play." MIDFIELDER FRANCK RIBERY WALKING BY (SOUNDBITE) (German) FORWARD CLAUDIO PIZARRO SAYING: "I wasn't with Bayern last year, but it hurt to see Dortmund taking everything away from Bayern. Yes, I would like to play Dortmund (in the semis)." MIDFIELDER ANATOLIY TYMOSHCHUK ARRIVING (SOUNDBITE) (German) DEFENDER JEROME BOATENG SAYING: "Well, it does not matter anymore who is next. Dortmund would be a great opponent in the semi-final, so there would be a German team in the final for sure. That is special." DEFENDERS RAFINHA AND LUIZ GUSTAVO ARRIVING TEAM BUS LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 26th April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • City:
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3J7BI0BYAE4WNLW20AJY7A5HV
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  • Story Text: Returning Bayern players Pizarro and Jerome Boateng say they would prefer to be drawn against Dortmund in the Champions League semi-finals.
    Bayern forward Pizarro, who scored his team's second goal in the 2-0 win against Juventus on Wednesday (April 11), told journalists at Munich Airport that Dortmund would be his preferred opponents. "I wasn't with Bayern last year, but it hurt to see Dortmund taking everything away from Bayern. Yes, I would like to play Dortmund (in the semis)."
    But most importantly, Pizarro hopes to be on the pitch, no matter who they play. He said : "I hope that I can play in the semi-final, that decision lies with the coach, though. But I feel very well and I hope that I will play." The Peruvian was with Werder Bremen last season.
    Defender Jerome Boateng added :
    " It doen't matter anymore who is next. Dortmund would be a great opponent in the semi-final, so there would be a German team in the final for sure. That is special."
    Bayern had weathered an early Juventus storm before Mario Mandzukic and Pizarro scored second-half goals to help the Germans to go through 4-0 on aggregate sending Jupp Heynckes team into the semi-finals for the third time in four years.
    Bayern, last term's runners-up when beaten by Chelsea, joined fellow Germans Borussia Dortmund and Spanish duo Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last four.
    The draw is on Friday.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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