|
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has voiced his admiration for Bayer Leverkusen and their coach Roger Schmidt as he prepares to take them on at the Allianz Arena on Saturday. Schmidt moved to Leverkusen from FC Salzburg in the summer, and guided his former side to a 3-0 friendly win over Bayern last season. Guardiola told a news conference: "That defeat was good for us. Coaches like Roger are very good for football. I am looking forward to this match. I like the way his team plays -- it's good for the fans and for those who love football. "I am big, big fan of this team, this coach and their playing style. I am certain they will come here and play their pressing game. "We will have little time to think, and this game will be very important for us and the rest of the Bundesliga season." Leverkusen beat Bayern at the Allianz Arena in October 2012, one of only two home Bundesliga defeats the champions have suffered in the past two years. They are third in the table, 10 points behind Guardiola's leaders. Guardiola hinted at a possible return of Bastian Schweinsteiger to the starting lineup, saying: "He's a real option." Schmidt told a news conference on Thursday: "We need to run like there is no tomorrow, and we need to attack like there is no tomorrow. That's how we can surprise them. "We need to stick to our system. We need to do what we've been doing all season, better and more extreme."
|
