Heynckes pleased to squeeze into semis
MUNICH, Germany — Jupp Heynckes expressed his delight at Bayern Munich’s ability to keep its composure despite a frustrating 0-0 draw against 10-man Sevilla as it qualified for the Champions League semifinals.
Bayern progressed to the last four on Wednesday for the seventh time in nine seasons, prevailing 2-1 on aggregate following its first-leg victory in Spain last week.
Franck Ribery had Bayern’s best chance in the Munich home leg, but he fired at Sevilla goalkeeper David Soria in the first half at Allianz Arena.
Sevilla’s Joaquin Correa hit the Bayern crossbar with a header on the hour mark before being sent off just before the final whistle for a foul on Javi Martinez.
Spain international Martinez finished with a bruised knee, while James Rodriguez picked up a thigh injury in the hard-fought encounter.
Heynckes was pleased his side ground out the result despite its inability to breach a determined Sevilla defense.
“You can’t always play brilliantly and put the opponent to the wall, sometimes you have to just keep them scoreless,” Heynckes said.
“They hit the bar, which didn’t let us rest, but we didn’t get nervous.”
Heynckes praised the discipline exhibited by his players.
Top scorer Robert Lewandowski, in addition to Ribery, Jerome Boateng and Joshua Kimmich, were each a yellow card away from suspension, but the quartet emerged unblemished.
“We kept our discipline and we didn’t pick up any yellow cards, even though four players were in danger of being suspended, which was important,” said Heynckes.
Thomas Mueller admitted it was a frustrating night for Bayern and its fans as it struggled to cope with Sevilla playmaker Ever Banega.
“In the first 20, 25 minutes, we managed to constrict Sevilla, but too often we didn’t get pressure on Banega,” Mueller said.
“Annoyingly, we did not score, although we had chances. We played well, even if it wasn’t a good game general public.”
Treble dream
for the
After Barcelona and Manchester City — the runaway league leaders in Spain and England respectively — crashed out on Tuesday, Bayern is the only team in Europe that can still win the treble.
It wrapped up a sixth straight Bundesliga title last Saturday and is into the German Cup semifinals, where it faces a trip to Bayer Leverkusen next Tuesday.
Liverpool, defending champion Real Madrid and Roma, which knocked out Barcelona, are also in Friday’s draw, but Heynckes has no preference.
“You saw yesterday in Manchester and Rome that we can’t underestimate any team — all the three other teams are at the top level,” he said.
“Of course, we are ambitious and we want to reach the final, but we have two hard games ahead of us, whoever we get.
“You saw that Barcelona clearly thought the job was done before they played Roma, so I have no preference.”
Sevilla’s bid for a first semifinal appearance fell short in spite of shutting out Bayern’s attack and restricting the host to 51 percent possession.
Sevilla boss Vincenzo Montella said it needs the same passion in its fight to get back among the European places in the Spanish league, where it is currently seventh.
“I am proud of my team, they showed personality with heart and they never gave up against a team which can win the Champions League,” said Montella.
“We put in a good performance, we had our chances, they certainly weren’t clear chances, but Correa hit the woodwork.
“Sevilla can leave Munich with heads held high.
“We have to have the same attitude, passion and determination now in the league and cup,” he added, with Sevilla due to face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on April 21.
You can’t always play brilliantly and put the opponent to the wall, sometimes you have to just keep them scoreless.”
Jupp Heynckes, Bayern coach
Toni Kroos, Real Madrid’s German midfielder
Juventus,
Jupp Heynckes, Bayern Munich coach