Berlin: Thomas Mueller says Bayern Munich need to produce “fireworks” against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday to keep their Champions League dreams alive after being made to wait for the Bundesliga title.
“On Tuesday, as a team we need to set off a few fireworks,” said Mueller after Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Mueller’s first-half header was cancelled out by Andre Hahn’s superb second-half strike for Gladbach.
The stalemate meant Bayern must wait to have their historic fourth consecutive Bundesliga title confirmed, but their focus now falls on Atletico with Bayern trailing 1-0 after losing last Wednesday’s first leg away.
Mueller said Bayern were bitterly disappointed not to take their chance against Gladbach to seal the Bundesliga title and must step up their performances against Atletico.
“We were 1-0 up, so it doubly hurts when you concede a goal and we didn’t manage to create another goal in the last quarter of an hour.”
Bayern have a five point lead with two games left and are away to mid-table Ingolstadt next Saturday, then host relegated Hanover on the final day of the Bundesliga season in a fortnight.
Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge spelt out what next week’s home Champions League semi-final, second-leg means. “The game on Tuesday is of paramount importance for us, we want to throw everything we have at it,” said Pep Guardiola’s boss.
There was some good news for Bayern as Germany defender Jerome Boateng played the first 68 minutes against Gladbach in his first game since tearing his groin in January.
“It’s very disappointing. Of course, we wanted to win today in front of our own fans and celebrate the title,” said the centre-back after three months out.
“We didn’t manage it, but now we need to focus our attention on Tuesday and give it all we’ve got.
“For me it was very good and very important to get a few minutes. Match practice is important, which is different than training.”
Guardiola says he has “one more bullet” to fire in his bid to avoid bowing out of Europe in the semi-finals for the third year running with Bayern at the hands of Spanish opponents, after defeats to Real Madrid in 2014 and Barcelona last year.
“Now it’s all concentration on Atletico Madrid, it will be a different game on Tuesday. We must play better,” said Guardiola, who is in his third and final season before coaching Manchester City next season.
“It’s another game and another competition.”
