Munich: Veteran wideman Franck Ribery is desperate to start on Tuesday night as Bayern Munich look to their strength at home in a bid to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit to Atletico Madrid and reach the Champions League final for the second time in three years.
The Frenchman, 33, came off the bench in the second half of the first leg in Spain.
He then had to sit out Bayern’s disappointing Bundesliga draw against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday after complaining of a back problem, but insists that he is ready to play his part.
“I am doing a lot better,” Ribery was quoted as saying by goal.com.
Ribery, who resumed training with the Bayern squad on Monday, added: “I am ready for the game against Atletico. I am really looking forward to playing against them. I have to play.”
Since losing the 2014 semi-final to Real Madrid, Bayern have won all 11 Champions League games in Munich.
Another victory would match Manchester United’s record from 2006-09.
“We’re very very strong at home. That’s what we’re counting on,” said Germany defender Jerome Boateng, who made his return on Saturday after more than three months out with a groin injury.
Against Juventus at home in March, Bayern were 2-0 down and heading for a round of 16 exit before the side came back to win 4-2 in extra time.
Another comeback in front of home fans is expected with Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge telling Atletico: “We’ll throw everything into it with 70,000 supporters and deliver a huge fight, that I can promise you. I hope that this fight will lead us to (the final in) Milan.”
Saul Niguez’ brilliant early strike in the first leg in Spain is the difference between the sides and Atletico are counting on their defensive strength to see them through for what could be a repeat of the 2014 final against city rival Real Madrid.
In turn, Diego Simeone’s Atletico were boosted by the news Uruguay defender Diego Godin and Belgium winger Yannick Carrasco have resumed training after injury.
Godin has missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury and is set to return as the cornerstone of Atletico’s defence in their bid to repeat their run to the 2014 final, there they lost 4-1 to Real Madrid after extra-time.
“It is the best thing to have great games and the tiredness matters little,” said Atletico’s Antoine Griezmann, the goal-scorer in their 1-0 Spanish league win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, when Simeone made seven changes.
“We are very enthusiastic. Every player dreams of playing in a Champions League semi-final and we will give everything.”
Meanwhile, Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff admits their preparations for Euro 2016 will be affected if Bayern Munich beat Atletico Madrid to reach the Champions League final on Saturday, May 28.
The world champions start training on May 23 in Ascona, Switzerland, to prepare for the European championships in France, from June 10-July 10.
The Germany squad will meet up two days after the German Cup final in Berlin between Bayern and Borussia Dortmund on May 21.
But, if they reach the final, Bayern’s Germany stars, such as Boateng, Thomas Mueller, Manuel Neuer and Mario Goetze, would only join up with Joachim Loew’s team a week after the rest of the Germany squad start their preparations.
“Of course, we hope FC Bayern and it’s players go through, the experience is also important for those in the national team,” Bierhoff told Kicker.
“But our planning would be made difficult, we have to admit that.”
