Makaay primed to strike gold

By Paul Saffer

Against a defence renowned as being one of the best in Europe, you need a striker with a proven track record at the highest level.

Fine strike rate
Chelsea FC goalkeeper Petr Cech and central defenders John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho are to generosity in front of goal what disciplinarian FC Bayern München coach Felix Magath is to easy training sessions. But in Roy Makaay, Magath has a striker who averages better than a goal every two games in Europe, including seven in this season's UEFA Champions League group stage.

Chelsea challenge
So when Bayern come to Stamford Bridge tonight with Makaay leading the line, something has to give. But the 30-year-old Dutchman believes his personal tussle with the watertight Chelsea backline will be far from decisive.

'Team important'
"It is the team that is important, not individual performances," he said. "Of course I always look to get a goal or an assist, but it is the result which is vital ahead of the return leg."

Usual tactics
Bayern expect Chelsea to play a cautious game at first, looking to draw their visitors in and pounce with vicious counterattacks. Makaay, however, insists his team will not look to use a tighter formation than usual.

'Try to win'
"Tactics are for the coach," he joked. "But the styles of the teams are different. We are more attacking and we always try to score, whether in German football or in Europe. It is an advantage to play away in the first leg, and we will try to win tonight."

Happy memories
Of course, Bayern have happy memories of a recent trip to London - they may have lost 1-0 at Arsenal FC but they began the game with a 3-1 first-leg lead, ensuring they made it through to the last eight. Makaay admits, though, that Chelsea are a different proposition.

'Different styles'
"You cannot compare the two teams, they have different styles," he said. "Chelsea have achieved more this season, indeed they are the favourites for the Champions League. If you look at the [FC] Barcelona game, you see that if you give Chelsea space they will cause you problems.

English strength
"English football is very strong - Manchester United [FC], Arsenal and Chelsea are getting better every year," he added. Still, Makaay is confident that Bayern will give as good as they get.

'50/50 game'
"It is a 50/50 game," Makaay said. "We proved we could play better than Arsenal and we are confident we can beat Chelsea. We are playing well in the Champions League and had a good result this weekend."

Wolfsburg worry
That Saturday match was a 3-0 Bundesliga win against VfL Wolfsburg, but Makaay's game ended worryingly prematurely when he hobbled off before the hour. His striking partner Claudio Pizarro had earlier departed on a stretcher with a hamstring injury that rules him out tonight and probably for next Tuesday's return, but Makaay - who missed the second leg against Arsenal with a thigh problem - is ready to play.

Back to fitness
"Against Wolfsburg we were three up and Pizarro was already injured so it made sense for me to go off," Makaay said. "I did miss training but I trained on my own on Sunday and Monday and then with the team on Tuesday night. Hopefully I will play the full 90 minutes - if I am taken off, it will be because I am playing badly." Cech, Terry, Carvalho and co had better pray for that, as for them the alternative does not bear thinking about.