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'On the edge of a razor' Bayern, Man Utd both convinced they will make semis
MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) -- Despite crashing 3-1 at home to Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Bayern Munich is convinced it will reach the semifinals of the Champions League on Wednesday by knocking-out Manchester United. The quarterfinal is balanced in Bayern's favor after their 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the first leg two weeks ago, but United go into the match just as optimistic they can turn the tie around. While Bayern were giving one of their worst displays of the season, United thumped Coventry City 4-2 to clinch their third successive English league title. And they also believe they still have a psychological advantage over Bayern following their astonishing 2-1 victory over them in the 1999 European Cup final when both their goals came in injury time. That was the most traumatic defeat in Bayern's history so finding the motivation for winning Wednesday's match against United at the Olympic stadium will not be a problem for the Bavarians, especially after their convincing 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in the first leg. The winners face either Real Madrid or Galatasaray in the semifinals. "It is a worrying fact that we tend to concentrate more on the Champions League than on the Bundesliga," said Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer, who predicted his men would finish second in the German league but saw no reason why they should not move past United. "I was not that impressed by Manchester United in the first leg," the legendary libero said. But United will need to be at their best to get the result they need in Munich. Bayern have one of the best home records in European soccer losing just three of 73 European Cup and Champions League matches. They have never lost at home by more than a single goal and in 31 years of European competition have conceded just 43 goals at home -- an average of 0.6 goals a match. Norwich City are the only English team to have won there, beating Bayern 2-1 in a UEFA Cup match in 1993. Bubbling But one thing in United's favor is that they are bubbling after securing their third successive league title -- their seventh in the last nine seasons -- and they could turn to recent history for inspiration. "We've been 1-0 down at half-time before against the Germans and that's the situation again," veteran striker Teddy Sheringham, one of United's goalscorers in the famous 1999 final, told BBC radio. "We know that if we go there and play a good second half, we'll maybe come out on top." Sheringham, like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who scored United's winner in the Barcelona final, is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench. Captain Roy Keane said Saturday's 4-2 victory over Coventry City at Old Trafford which effectively sealed the title had given the side a welcome confidence boost. "The good thing is we look like scoring goals, which we haven't in the previous few games," he said. Bayern cooach Ottmar Hitzfeld knew exactly what his side, chasing victory in Europe's showcase club competition since the last of three consecutive triumphs in 1976, had to do to book a place in the last four. Effenberg back "We must leave Manchester no space, we must keep moving the ball forward and we must score one or two goals." That was his plan. The defense was Hitzfeld's main concern. Ghanaian Samuel Kuffour, who made three mistakes for as many goals conceded against Schalke, heard commercial manager Uli Hoeness tell him he was simply not good enough. Defensive midfielder Jens Jeremies also ran into trouble -- he was fined 10,000 marks for over-reacting to a refereeing decision. The good news for Hitzfeld was that captain Stefan Effenberg, who was suspended against Schalke and whose creative skills were sorely missed, will be back to orchestrate play against United. Hitzfeld was expected to opt for a bold 3-4-3 formation with Mehmet Scholl, Carsten Jancker and Elber up front. The visitors will be without star midfielder David Beckham, whose superb crosses are so vital to the side. "The girls in Munich will not like it but I'm delighted," Hoeness said after the England captain got a booking in the first leg to miss the trip to the Bavarian city. Probable teams: Bayern Munich: 1-Oliver Kahn; 4-Samuel Kuffour, 5-Patrik Andersson, 25-Thomas Linke; 2-Willy Sagnol, 16-Jens Jeremies, 11-Stefan Effenberg (capt), 18-Michael Tarnat; 19-Carsten Jancker, 9-Elber, 7-Mehmet Scholl. Manchester United: 1-Fabien Barthez; 2-Gary Neville, 6-Jaap Stam, 24-Wes Brown, 27-Mikael Silvestre; 8-Nicky Butt, 16-Roy Keane (capt), 18-Paul Scholes, 11-Ryan Giggs; 9-Andy Cole, 19-Dwight Yorke. Referee: Vitor Manuel Melo Pereira (Portugal) Bayern's Elber fit for Manchester United clashMUNICH, Germany -- Bayern Munich's Brazilian striker Elber said on Tuesday he was fully fit to face Manchester United in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday. "I can definitely play," Elber, who missed Bayern's 3-1 Bundesliga defeat at home to Schalke 04 on Saturday because of a knee injury, said on his homepage at icons.com. "We have forgotten all about losing to Schalke," he added. "Now Manchester United are coming. We all realize what's at stake. The coach doesn't need to say a single word." Elber said he believed Bayern, who won 1-0 at Old Trafford in the first leg, have the experience to progress to the semifinals. "We've had more or less the same team for the last three years and we have enough experience for games like this," said the Brazilian, who sparked headlines before the first leg when he dismissed England captain David Beckham as "nothing special." "The first leg doesn't count anymore. "What we have to do is put Manchester United under pressure and show them we're the home team. "[United manager Alex] Ferguson has said that if Manchester move 1-0 ahead, they will have the best chances. "I don't think that's true. We are all prepared for that. If we're 1-0 down, we'll stay calm and keep fighting."
Effenberg says Munich only wants cup; shakeup vowedBayern Munich is walking a tightrope this season, one which has the club's management threatening a major shakeup next season. Munich faces the danger that it won't qualify for the Champions League next season as it continues to stumble in what's become a wild and heated six-way battle for the Bundesliga title. Listen to the players talk before the second leg Champions league matchup Wednesday against old nemesis Manchester United and it's easy to see why they have domestic problems. "The Bundesliga doesn't interest me," said midfield star Stefan Effenberg. "I'm looking at the Champions League and not our nine league defeats. We want the cup, period. It can go 90 minutes or 120 minutes against Manchester, but in the end we'll win." Munich president Franz Beckenbauer on Tuesday announced a "radical shakeup" in the roster for 2002, which means that Munich's veterans may be facing their last chance to capture Europe's most prestigious trophy. If they fail to bring the trophy home for the first time since 1976, Munich could finish without a title for the first time in five seasons. There also may not be a return ticket to Europe's biggest club bash next season. "It's absolutely like dancing on the edge of a razor," said goalie Ollie Kahn. Munich beat the English club 1-0 in Manchester, but Saturday's 3-1 Bundesliga loss to Schalke dropped it two points off the lead and raised serious doubts if it can take control of the league as once assumed. More sobering for Munich, the club is just two points away from a sixth place finish. Only the top four qualify for the Champions League. "It's very possible we will exit against Manchester and slip down to sixth place in the Bundesliga," said Beckenbauer, although he expressed confidence the club will advance in Europe after Wednesday's match. "But the world won't break apart. Then we'll sit down and do it better next year," he added. But Beckenbauer admitted "it's not fun" watching Munich's stumbling unfocused performances in league. "I've rarely had such ups-and-downs as this season." Both Beckenbauer and manager Uli Hoeness had some harsh words for defender Sammy Kuffour, the team's scapegoat after his mistakes allowed Danish striker Ebbe Sand a hat trick in the Schalke match. Kuffour, with the club since 1993, wants to jump to Real Madrid, which reportedly has inquired about him. Munich, however, won't let the defender leave. "He thinks he's underpaid by us, but after the way he played in the Schalke match he isn't worth a mark more," said Hoeness. "Sammy should stop letting player agents turn his head and concentrate on his job." Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said Kuffour will play against Manchester. "He has my confidence. He's played well in the Champions League," said Hitzfeld. The coach sounded pessimistic about the tightrope Bayern is currently walking, and didn't sound overjoyed about the padding from the first leg against Manchester. "We're got little room to maneuver. The situation is dangerous," said Hitzfeld. "We have to be careful, despite our good position after the 1-0 victory in Manchester. We've got nothing in our pocket yet." Hoeness said Munich has budgeted 100 million marks (US$47 million) for new players in the shakeup, a huge sum for a German side.
Munich slaps Jens Jeremies with fineGerman international Jens Jeremies was slapped with a 10,000 mark (US$4,800) fine on Tuesday by Bayern Munich for receiving an unnecessary yellow card. Jeremies, warned by the club beforehand for his outbursts, was hit with the card in Saturday's 3-1 Bundesliga loss to Schalke. The midfielder slammed the ball against the grass after loudly protesting a call. "That was just pure frustration because the match wasn't going the way we wanted," said Jeremies. French defender Willie Sagnol is apparently next on the list to be fined after drawing a fifth yellow card against Schalke for complaining.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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