Bayern dream on for Javi and Van Buyten
Thursday, May 2, 2013
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"You can't imagine anything better," said Javi Martínez after booking a Wembley date for FC Bayern München, though Daniel Van Buyten noted: "It's going to be a hard final."
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The euphoria that spilled out on the playing surface of the Camp Nou once the referee's whistle indicated that the final aggregate score of this utterly remarkable UEFA Champions League semi-final would be FC Bayern München 7-0 FC Barcelona did not follow the German side into the media mixed zone. Jupp Heynckes' men are a steely, focused bunch and the prospect of trying to defeat Borussia Dortmund is something they began to treat with utmost seriousness the moment they walked down the tunnel after celebrating in the view of their delirious fans high in the rafters.
Goals from Arjen Robben, Thomas Müller and one in his own net from Gerard Piqué made the aggregate result sound freakish, but the constant intensity of Bayern's play, the relentless intelligence and technique was something that neither Javi Martínez nor Daniel Van Buyten could quite believe.
Javi Martínez, Bayern midfielder
It's true we weren't really expecting two results like these for the simple reason that Barcelona have been the best team in the world for years. I don't think it has been anything like as easy as it appears but we worked very hard, played very well and in the end I think we can say we managed to show we were better than them this time.
It doesn't feel too bad, reaching my third final in the space of a year [UEFA Europa League, UEFA European Championship and now UEFA Champions League]. After a season of acclimatisation in a new club, where in fact everything feels totally new in your life, I really couldn't ask for anything more than what we've achieved. We've already assured ourselves of our first trophy because we are German champions, we are in the German Cup final and now we are going to Wembley. It's fantastic and really you can't imagine anything better than this.
One of the real tasks which we saw as very important was trying to shut down Andrés Iniesta and it was mostly my job. He's one of the Barcelona players who can do their opponents the most damage so I tried to do what I could. Above all, I've got a good friendship with him so I'm quite sure that one day soon, when we are together in the Spain squad, he'll remind me of this and how I played against him.
I'm very proud to be the only Spaniard who's going to be in the Champions League final at Wembley and I'll do all I can to ensure I win my first Champions League medal.
Daniel Van Buyten, Bayern defender
This is great. I guess not everybody believed we could do this, but we are proud to have won this tie so impressively and to have scored seven goals across the two matches – you can call it a dream come true for us. Also, I'd say we are proud to have shown so clearly that Bayern play football which is very attractive but also very effective.
The fact we face a German rival at Wembley is more difficult for us, I think. I know that a lot of people probably doubted Dortmund before their tie with Real Madrid but look how strongly they won that semi-final – it emphasises what a tough rival they will be. It's going to be a hard final for us.