Third time would be a charm for coach Heynckes
BAYERN Munich aim to complete a first title treble in club history tomorrow in the cup final against VfB Stuttgart, which will also mark the farewell of their coach, Jupp Heynckes.
Bayern won the Bundesliga title in record fashion and added the Champions League trophy last weekend in London with a 2-1 victory, in the first all-German final, against their rivals Borussia Dortmund.
The treble would cement Munich’s standing as the best German club and allow Heynckes to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United 1999), Pep Guardiola (Barcelona 2009) and Jose Mourinho (Inter Milan 2010) by winning the three trophies in one season, since the Champions League has been played in its current format.
“We have to win. One reason to win it is for the coach,” French winger Franck Ribery said of Heynckes, who is set for retirement and will be replaced by Guardiola. Ribery missed Bayern’s last two cup matches after being sent off in his side’s win against Augsburg in the third round, but is available for tomorrow’s season finale.
Munich enter the final with a record 15 cup wins and eight domestic doubles, but the first treble would really set the current generation apart from even the 1970s team led by Franz Beckenbauer. “We’re all hungry, we want to go down as immortal, we want to win the treble,” attacking midfielder Thomas Mueller said.
“The cup has gained in importance, because the prize on offer is more than just the cup — we can make history.”
The German international admitted that the first training session after returning from London had not been easy.
“We were a little heavy-legged, you sensed things were still a little out of shape. But it became better and it is all geared up to Berlin now,” he said.
But Bayern will be without Brazilian internationals Dante and Luiz Gustavo, as Munich agreed yesterday to release them for the Confederations Cup, the mandatory fortnight ahead of its start. Brazilian technical director Carlos Alberto Parreira had earlier said that if the two were not in Brazil by tomorrow, they would not be in the Selecao squad for the June 15-30 tournament.
Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rumenigge named Parreira’s threat “psycho terror”, but the players were released because a scheduling error by the German football federation ultimately led to the situation.
Stuttgart coach Bruno Labbadia concedes that his team will be outsiders against Bayern, who themselves were crushed 5-2 by Dortmund in the 2012 final.
“They are presently the best team in Europe, if not the world, and it would be extraordinary to beat such a team.”
He did not begrudge Heynckes all the success he has had this season, but added: “Just not on Saturday. Two titles in one season are enough.”
Stuttgart have won the cup three times but the last success dates back to 1997 and their players are aiming to change that. “We have nothing to fear. We have the chance to achieve something very special and take a title. Our last title success is quite a few years ago now.
“That considered, it’s positive pressure for us. Bayern could well underestimate us,” midfielder Christian Gentner said.
For former Hertha Berlin player Ibrahima Traore, the final offers him the opportunity to finally play in the Olympic stadium, as he spent most of his time in Berlin on the reserve team.
“I played in Berlin for three years but unfortunately never in the stadium.
“Every player dreams of playing in a cup final, and this one is against the best team in the world,” he added.
“We have nothing to lose and are really looking forward to the game,” the Guinean international said. Sapa-DPA