Bayern taking nothing for granted
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
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Mark van Bommel warned FC Bayern München their winning run will not automatically continue against ACF Fiorentina: "Warranties and guarantees are just for washing machines".
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Times change. Earlier this season FC Bayern München and captain Mark van Bommel were coming under criticism for the club's results and performances; on Tuesday it was a relaxed Dutch midfielder that addressed the media as his side aim to continue their superb form against ACF Fiorentina.
The UEFA Champions League first knockout round home leg comes with Bayern on a 12-game winning streak, and Van Bommel struck his first goal of the campaign on Saturday to equalise in his team's 3-1 defeat of BV Borussia Dortmund. In contrast to earlier this season when some commentators were questioning the 32-year-old, at the weekend Van Bommel was hailed, and now his concerns are not winning back the fans but rather vaulting expectations that Bayern can end a nine-year wait to win Europe's premier club competition.
"You never know what will happen next – warranties and guarantees are just for washing machines," Van Bommel said. "We are definitely among the outsiders in this competition, but we are dangerous ones. It is a very similar situation to Barcelona, where I won the Champions League there in 2006. At Bayern München things are developing very, very well. We could create something very special this year."
Van Bommel's experience is proving an asset in Bayern's revival, holding the midfield while Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry probe forward with their pace and skill; and in their 12 consecutive victories, the Bavarian side have scored 39 goals and conceded just 11. The Dutchman also played in both of last season's group matches against Fiorentina when Bayern won 3-0 at home and drew 1-1 in Italy, but he is not reading too much into those results.
"Last year's games against Fiorentina do not have any importance any more," Van Bommel said. "Playing at home first is also not an advantage. It is not going to be simple. I think Fiorentina are even better then last year. We have to improve our defence, but this is not just the defenders' job – it is the whole team's job. But of course individual mistakes always can happen. At the moment we are quite solid and robust as a team, but this could end fast."
