Bayern Munich’s coach Carlo Ancelotti talks to Robert Lewandowski, Mats Hummels and team mates during a training session before UEFA Champions League soccer match against FC Rostov.
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Bayern Munich shot-stopper Manuel Neuer was also full of praise for the visitors who prepare to embark on their maiden Champions League campaign.
Three-time victor Carlo Ancelotti has dined at the top table with six clubs, first employers Reggiana being the sole side that he didn’t partake with, and he knows how to get underway in it, prevailing in his opening contests with Parma, Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris St-Germain and Real Madrid.
The five-time European champions’ last Champions League win came in the 2012-13 season.
But Muller, speaking ahead of Bayern’s group stage opener against Rostov, is optimistic Bayern can win Europe’s greatest prize for a sixth time under the Italian.
Thus as impressive as Rostov were in posting a W19-D6-L5 record en route to coming within two points of beating CSKA Moscow to the Russian Premier League title last term before beating Ajax in their Champions League play-off, it is a struggle to see them even drawing at 10/1.
“My opinion is good players have to play and good players can play together”, he told a pre-match news conference.
“We want to win the Champions League – that’s always our goal”.
Ancelotti is expecting a tough test against Russian side Rostov, warning Bayern will have to be on song to break through a resolute defence at the Allianz Arena. Tomorrow we start. It is very important to us and we will give everything. “I won it three times”.
“We are professional enough to know that there are no easy games and it will be tough”. “First we need to win the group”.
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“The Champions League is a special competition”, Ancelotti said.
