New Delhi, Jan 9 (IANS) Bayern Munich are down to serious business and coach Jupp Heynckes Monday warned India to be ready for some hammering during Tuesday’s international friendly, which will also be Bhaichung Bhutia’s farewell, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.
The Bavarains arrived here Monday from Doha for their third visit to India with a star-stuuded first team that has in its ranks skipper Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller, Frank Ribbery, Arjen Robben, Jerome Boateng and Thomas Mueller, the packed Nehru Stadium should be happy to have feel of some magical football. A part of the proceeds will also be donated to the earthquake victims of Sikkim, Bhaichung’s home state.
Heynckes, a former German striker, said the trip is a part of Bayern’s preparation for the second-leg of Bundesliga, which resumes Friday, and it is serious business for them. table toppers Bayern start their second-leg Friday in away match to fourth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach. Heynckes formed the golden era of Monchengladbach in the 60s and the 70s.
‘We are looking forward to see Indian culture and a little bit of the country. We are coming from Doha, where we were training for the second phase of Bundesliga. It is serious business for us and we look forward to a good competitive match,’ said the 66-year-old Heynckes, who is having his third stint with the four-time UEFA Champions League winners.
‘We will be testing some of our players ahead of the second-leg and will surely play some attractive football,’ he said.
Heynckes, who was a part of the 1974 World Cup winning West Germany squad, said Bayern will teach India what it takes to play against a top European side.
‘We will show what it takes to play against top European sides. We are among the top-five in Europe and hopefully we will display the attacking European football,’ said Heynckes.
Germany’s and Bayern captain Phillip Lahm said that he has no idea of Indian football. ‘To honest I don’t have a fair knowledge of Indian football. We have seen Bhaichung once turning out for a World XI side (Goal4Africa) at the Allianz Arena,’ he said.
Asked if this could be Germany’s best chance to win the Euro, Lahm said: ‘Obviously that will be one of out targets this year. We came close to win it couple of times in the past. But we have lot of assignments for the clubs as well. We have the Bundesliga, German Cup and the Champions League.’
Heynckes, when asked if Bayern can beat Barcelona in a dream Champions League final Allianz Arena, said: ‘Whenever you play against teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid you have to be at the top of your game. They play the best football in Europe. But having beaten Barcelona twice at the Nou Camp, I think it would be unfair to say that we are scared of facing Barcelona at home.’
On a lighter note, Bayern’s star midfielder Schweinsteiger said he was more interested in Indian girls than the spicy food.
‘We have a cook travelling with us, so I am more interested in Indian girls. Will see them when they turn up in large numbers at the stadium,’ he said.
