On the Jupp
> Heynckes hungry for treble after Bayern devour Besiktas
BAYERN MUNICH manager Jupp Heynckes said his side were hungry to complete a treble this season after they thrashed Turkey’s Besiktas 8-1 on aggregate to reach the Champions League quarterfinals yesterday.
Bayern eased past Besiktas 3-1 in the second leg to complete a resounding victory, a record 11th straight in the competition for Heynckes, who led Bayern to the title in 2013 before retiring and returning this season.
Heynckes, who commended Besiktas and their fans, said it had been far from straightforward for his team despite the aggregate score.
“Even though the first match was 5-0, it was not easy. It is normal for the team to relax from time to time and now show the desired performance, but we scored eight goals in two games of the round of 16 and this shows how good a team we are,” Heynckes told reporters via a translator.
Heynckes, who said he had no preference for his side’s next opponents with the quarterfinal draw today, is now targeting a treble with Bayern on course to wrap up the Bundesliga title having also reached the German Cup semifinals.
“Of course we are hungry (to complete a treble). We want the Champions League, we are very determined, and we also want the German Cup. However, we need to first focus on the target ahead of us,” he said.
Bayern could secure their sixth consecutive Bundesliga title at the weekend.
The only negative for Heynckes yesterday was an injury suffered by midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who was taken off early with a suspected ankle problem.
“Thiago didn’t come off as a precautionary measure,” admitted Heynckes.
“He said he felt a pain on the sole of his foot, but the first assessment is not that bad.”
Bayern hope a scan on Thiago’s foot will not mean another lengthy lay off after he missed 13 games up until mid-February with a leg injury.
The injury-prone Spain star, who also missed half a year with a torn a knee ligament in 2015, claimed Bayern’s 100th goal this season on 18 minutes before injury struck.
Bayern captain Thomas Muller was pleased to see the Germans make the quarterfinals, but rued the three yellow cards his team picked up.
Defender Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Rafinha were all booked in Istanbul.
It means they join Robert Lewandowski, Sebastian Rudy and Joshua Kimmich, as the six Bayern players who are all just one more yellow card away from suspension.
“The bookings were a bit annoying,” admitted Muller.
“Besiktas tried a lot in the second half and it was a wild game.
“I can barely remember a game where we gave the ball away so often and the second half didn’t feel so good.” – Reuters/AFP