Bayern stay positive despite setbacks
Monday, December 17, 2007
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Narrowly on top in Germany, Uli Hoeness says "the first half of the season will have been very, very positive" if FC Bayern München progress in Europe.
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FC Bayern München's shock at finishing fourth in the Bundesliga last season and missing out on the UEFA Champions League should have been replaced by satisfaction after they went into the winter break top of the German table.
Bremen challenge
A summer spending spree brought the likes of Luca Toni, Miroslav Klose and Franck Ribéry to Munich, and a seventh title in a decade remains a real possibility. Yet they lead Werder Bremen only on goal difference after Bayern were held at Hertha BSC Berlin on Saturday, their second successive goalless draw, while their main rivals saw off fourth-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen 5-2. Bremen chairman Jürgen Born remarked during the club's recent general meeting: "Bayern have spent €80m to move one point clear of us. How much do they want to spend to move two, even three points ahead?"
Getting tougher
Indeed, their advantage is rather arbitrary now, a far cry from the second round of the season when Bayern travelled to Bremen and triumphed 4-0. More sides are shutting out the leaders, and Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness said: "The other teams have found out how to get results against us. In future we will not be able to just roll opponents over."
Trouble
Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld does have the consolation of entering the six-week winter recess having conceded just eight goals in the opening 17 games, a Bayern record. Otherwise it has been a turbulent week with goalkeeper Oliver Kahn suspended for not fulfilling his captain's duties during the club's Christmas party. "We can only win the German championship if peace returns," Hitzfeld said.
Optimism
However, Hoeness insists the picture is still bright ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Cup encounter with Aris Thessaloniki FC, where a home victory would take Bayern into the Round of 32 as Group F winners. "We must not get infected by all this crisis talk," he said. "I am very happy, the first goal has been achieved. We must not be nit-picking all the time. We have lost just once in 17 matches. If we now win our UEFA Cup tie against Aris, then the first half of the season will have been very, very positive."
