FCBARCELONA.CAT

13.04.2009 17:43

Klinsmann and Lahm reckon tie is lost

Marc Guillén / Jordi Clos

Bayern Munich’s manager and full-back Philip Lahm think that pulling back Barça’s 4-0 lead from the first leg is “impossible”. Both are full of praise for Barça’s squad and say they will do all they can to win.

Bayern Munich are well aware of how tough it will be to pull back Barça’s 4-0 lead from the first leg of their Champions League quarter final matchup. In their pre-match press conference, Jurgen Klinsmann and Philip Lahm said that turning the tie round is “impossible”.

Painful defeat

“We have to be realistic; Barça is the best team in Europe and at Camp Nou they showed us our limitations,” said Klinsmann. “It was a painful defeat for the club we represent and so in front of our fans we have to do the best we can and try to win the game.”

Klinsmann mentioned the number of players Bayern were missing in the first leg and how “some players had to play out of position”. “We weren’t aggressive enough and Barça had too much space,” he noted. He announced that Butt will again be in goal and that Lahm and Lucio, missing through injury at Camp Nou, will be back.

Lahm’s back

Philip Lahm was at the press conference and backed up his boss when he said in his view “it’s almost impossible to turn this around”. He also said the players want to win the game and are determined that if they have to go out of the Champions League, they will do so with pride.

The full-back may have the job of marking Leo Messi if the Argentine plays this Tuesday at the Allianz Arena. “Between us we have to stop him, although whoever plays they are the best in Europe and we’re delighted to be matching ourselves against them,” he commented.