Hat-trick of defeats haunts confident Bayern

BERLIN (AFP) –

Jupp Heynckes (C) stages a training session for the Bayern Munich squad at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. Heynckes says the German champions are completely focussed on their Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on May 25 and defeat is unthinkable.

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes said on Tuesday that the German champions were completely focussed on their Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on May 25 and defeat was unthinkable.

“Nothing will distract us,” said the 68-year-old who was told in mid-season he will be replaced by former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and is set to retire regardless of their European quest.

“The players are extremely solid, mentally and physically. We have an objective and no one will deter us from this goal,” he added ahead of the season’s showpiece match at Wembley stadium in London.

“The team is completely focussed on victory and I have never seen that throughout my career,” continued Heynckes who is coming to the conclusion of his third spell at Bayern and will oversee his final Bundesliga match this weekend against Borussia Monchengladbach.

“If I was 10 or 15 years younger, I would be really interested in working in another country,” he replied to questions about his future.

“I prefer to wait until after these two finals before saying what I will do next,” he added looking ahead to the German Cup final against Stuttgart on June 1 in Berlin.

“After last season, to play like we have this campaign proves that they are exceptional people with amazing determination and they are my players,” he added in reference to their devastating finale last season when they threw away victory in the final against Chelsea and also lost the German title to Dortmund.

Bayern who last lifted the continent’s most prestigious prize in 2001 – when they beat Valencia – have since lost finals against Inter Milan in 2010 and last year on penalties at their Alliance Arena fortress.

German international Thomas Muller and Dutch teammate Arjen Robben are determined to avoid the nightmarish thoughts of a hat-trick of defeats.

“If we lose for a third time, we will be given a reputation as losers and we certainly don’t want that,” said Muller who appeared to have won the match against Chelsea last year with the opening goal in the dying minutes.

“Losing twice is enough,” added Robben who suffered his own heartache with an extra-time penalty that was saved by Petr Cech before opting not to take part in the shoot-out.

Bayern, who romped to the Bundesliga title this season with a record breaking campaign, come into the tie in top form and boosted by the match winning performances of French winger Franck Ribery.

“He has taken it to another level,” complimented midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

“It would be silly to not see that he is a world class player. Everyone can see that,” said the 28-year-old who has been at the club since 2002.

“Everyone talks about his dribbling skills and offensive qualities but for me the most important thing is he now helps out in defence,”

“Franck is very good in this area and it makes him even more important for us, for the team and for the club.” he concluded.