Süle is missing from FC Bayern
Before the quarter-final second leg against FC Villarreal, Manuel Neuer emphasized the special strength of FC Bayern Munich after setbacks. “We’re not to be trifled with when we lost a game like Villarreal 0-1. Of course that bothers us,” said the captain of the record champions on Monday. On Tuesday (9 p.m.) in the Champions League, the Munich side have to catch up with the Spanish Europa League winners from a 1-0 loss from the first leg in order to reach the semi-finals. Neuer emphasized: “These are games that excite us.”
In the intended turnaround, Neuer is also relying on emotional stimuli from the 70,000 spectators in the sold-out Allianz Arena. “We’re playing at home, we’re a bit motivated, we want to use that and prove it with our fans,” said the 36-year-old national goalkeeper. The “own will”, the “character of the team” coupled with ambition and speech make him confident that they will probably move into the semi-finals they are aiming for against Liverpool.
However, FC Bayern will have to do without defender Niklas Süle, who will transfer to BVB on a free transfer in the summer. The 26-year-old cannot play on Tuesday because of the flu. “Niki is ill and will definitely be absent,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann. World champion Lucas Hernández (26) is available again against Villarreal – the Frenchman missed the 1-0 win over FC Augsburg due to a thigh contusion. Besides Süle, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (33), Bouna Sarr (30) and Corentin Tolisso (27) are out.
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FC Bayern: Nagelsmann left the players on a “very short” leash
“Now the players have been on a leash for two or three days, not even a cross-country leash, but a very short one – now I just have to undo this silver buckle and then they have to walk,” said Nagelsmann. “Now we’re on the open field – and tomorrow I’ll open the buckles.” The burden of the first-leg defeat provides a special motivation. “It is quite normal and a bit human when you win so many titles and have so many successful years as a club as a whole, but also as individual players, that a special stimulus, a special pressure is sometimes needed to tease out special performances . It is well known that diamonds are formed under very high pressure.”
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