Jupp Heynckes warns other teams of Bayern's threat in the knockout stages- UCL News
Despite losing 2-0 to City in the Champions League, Bayern Munich still managed to qualify for the knockout stages, topping the Group A. However, Manchester City had to face elimination from the competition, as Napoli won 2-0 over Villarreal in Spain.
Bayern travelled away to England for their last group A game against Manchester City on Wednesday, December 7. David Silva and Yaya Toure scored goals for the Premier League leaders.
City needed to record a win and hope that Napoli drop points against Villarreal, but the Italians emerged as 2-0 winners themselves.
Bayern manager, Jupp Heynckes, expressed frustration at his team’s loss but predicted a tough time for opposition in the knockout stages. He opined that the Reds would pose a huge threat for other teams in the competition despite losing their way in the
last group game.
He accepted his team’s wayward display in front of enthusiastic and upbeat City fans, who were confident of their team’s victory from the word go. He reckoned that the Citizens were outstanding from the start and probably deserved to win the encounter.
Heynckes, though, was delighted to have finished as group A leaders, two points above Napoli, who are the second team to progress through to the round-of-16 alongside the Bavarian giants.
The manager assured his fans of a quick comeback once the team returns to full strength.
While talking to uefa.com, the manager further enthused:
"If we are at full strength and Bastian Schweinsteiger is back, it will be difficult for any team to beat us. It is a big success to have won the group on the penultimate matchday. We had big selection problems today."
"The team showed fighting spirit, and that is all that is possible at the moment. Against a City team which was at full strength and still had hopes to qualify, it became difficult." Heynckes concluded.
Bayern went into the game with the likes of Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Mario Gomez and Franck Ribery confined to the bench.
The Reds are expected to be at full strength once they get ready to face VfB Stuttgart on Sunday, December 11.
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