Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 8y

Bayern's Thomas Muller expecting tough DFB Pokal final vs. Dortmund

Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller believes Saturday's DFB Pokal final against Borussia Dortmund will be "a test of endurance."

Bayern take on Dortmund in Berlin in Pep Guardiola's final match in charge, and Muller is certain the Manchester City-bound boss will want to end his tenure on a winning note.

Guardiola has won three consecutive Bundesliga titles, and could add his second domestic Double, after 2014.

"If I were a coach, I'd ideally leave with a trophy from my last match," Muller told the club's official website on Wednesday.

Muller has scored 32 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions this season, but missed a first-half penalty as Bayern went out of the Champions League to Atletico Madrid.

He does not plan to take a penalty this time, at least not before a potential shootout. He said: "They're Lewy's [Robert Lewandowski's] now. For now, I have to do some training again."

Muller, who believes the final will be "a bit of a test of endurance," would rather not score and improve his personal record if that's what it takes to lift the trophy.

He said: "I know it sounds like a cliche, but it's no use to me if I score three goals and we lose 4-3. I'll still be in a bad mood for the whole of Sunday."

Poland international Lewandowski, meanwhile, has praised Guardiola.

"I've learned a lot in my two years with him," Lewandowski said. "I'm a better player than before my time at Bayern."

He warned that in the final Bayern "can't afford mistakes" and need to be "on top form."

He added: "Both teams have outstanding forwards. The difference between BVB and Bayern is very small. It's a one-off match so the little details will decide it."

One of those little details could be the return of veteran midfielder Xabi Alonso, who completed part of training for the first time since suffering severe bruising to the ribs against Ingolstadt earlier this month.

"I don't know yet whether I'll be fit for Saturday," Alonso told the official club website. "I'm not better yet and I need a little more time. But there are still three days to go and I hope I'll get better quickly."

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