RUMMENIGGE DAMPENS TREBLE DREAMS

BERLIN: On the eve of the new German Bundesliga season, Bayern Munich chairman KarlHeinz Rummenigge has poured cold water on their fans’ dreams of winning another treble.

“Of course, I know that the public is dreaming of the treble, but we also know well enough how difficult and unpredictable the Champions League is,” Rummenigge wrote in the programme for Friday’s season opener against Werder Bremen.

“Even perfect football, even being the best team in Europe, they are no guarantees for winning this title. The Champions League is a marathon.”

The Bavarian giants made history last season under Ancelotti’s predecessor Pep Guardiola by becoming the first German club to win the league title four years in a row. They then completed the domestic double by also winning the German Cup.

But the Champions League is the trophy Bayern fans crave the most and they will be dreaming of a repeat of their treble-winning 2012-13 campaign under Jupp Heynckes.