Champions League: Bayern Munich warned over complacency against Arsenal by Jupp Heynckes

The German side lead 3-1 from the first leg

Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes maintains his side cannot switch off against Arsenal tomorrow night - even though they already have one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The runaway Bundesliga leaders could be forgiven for thinking the hard work had been done after delivering a European masterclass with a 3-1 win in London a fortnight ago.

However, Heynckes warned the Germans - who before last season's final defeat to Chelsea had lost just once at home in Europe to English opposition, and that back in the 1993 UEFA Cup against Norwich - cannot afford to be complacent.

"Last year Arsenal lost 4-0 (away to AC Milan), then in the second leg they won 3-0 - they could have won 4-0, they had the chances, so it shows they are a strong team and capable of making up the gap if they have to," Heynckes told a press conference this afternoon.

"I respect Arsene Wenger very much. He is a top manager and Arsenal are a fighting team.

"They will do everything to get a result here, so we must be on our guard."

Bayern forward Franck Ribery will miss tomorrow's second leg at the Allianz Arena, while midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and defender Jerome Boateng are both suspended.

Former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben, meanwhile, was not involved at the weekend against Dusseldorf because of a calf problem.

Bayern, though, have the likes of Brazilian Luiz Gustavo and Switzerland midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri ready to come in.

Captain Philipp Lahm, however, insists that strength in depth must not result in any over-confidence tomorrow.

"We know how good we are and we have a lot of confidence, but we do not expect to win everything," the German defender said.

"We must work hard and we must be focused.

"Of course Arsenal must attack, they have to play catch up, but we must also attack and cannot just hope to win."

With Arsenal facing an uphill battle to make it back into the top four of the Barclays Premier League after defeat at rivals Tottenham, tomorrow night could be their last elite European fixture for some time.

Following the best part of a decade without silverware, Wenger's position continues to come under scrutiny.

Heynckes, though, feels his good friend still has plenty to bring to the top table.

"Arsene Wenger is a very creative and a good reader of football. Arsenal has played some of the best football in England over recent years," he said.

"Maybe they haven't been as successful, but their style is very attractive.

"Arsenal has had world-class players, some have left the club and some have come in. For all managers though, to be at the top of the game you must have top players.

"This might have been a difficult thing for Wenger, but he has been one of the top managers in his career and I will be sad if he is not involved any more."

PA

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: Mercedes and Hamilton to roar in Monaco

Monaco is a street circuit where driver ability is more important than anywhere else and if we take ...

by Gareth Purnell

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: It sounds sadistic, but the team live for the mountain stages

Three weeks ago as I drove off the Eurostar, I remember thinking what a very long time it was until ...

by Martin Ayres

iBet: Rose has the ammunition for Wentworth

McDowell did brilliantly to land the World Match Play title in Bulgaria last week, but it’s a format...

by Gareth Purnell

       
James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats
Giro d'Italia: The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

As the Giro d'Italia tackles the brutal climb, Simon Usborne takes on the snow and switchbacks – and soon realises what the fuss is about
National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

Sent down at the Old Bailey

A tour of the world's most famous court
Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
British football scores an own goal

British football scores an own goal

Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

James Lawton

Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again