Schweinsteiger geared for success

FC Bayern München midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger says injuries and suspensions could bite into FC Zenit St. Petersburg's UEFA Cup chances – and believes Bayern are just the team to take advantage.

'We expect victory'
Zenit may have an away goal from the 1-1 draw in Munich but any benefit could be annulled by the suspensions to Andrei Arshavin, Fernando Ricksen and Radek Širl. That is the message from Schweinsteiger, who played right midfield during last week's topsy-turvy semi-final first leg. "We know that Zenit won't have all their best players available and I think this could help us," he said. "We are in a very good mood and, when we are like this, we are well capable of scoring a couple of goals. We expect victory."

Contrasting fortunes

Quadruple chance
That mind-set has already helped Bayern win the German Cup and the German League Cup this season, and with the side 12 points clear in the Bundesliga, it is a quadruple of trophies they are chasing. "I genuinely believe we will go through," said the 23-year-old. "Effectively we have already won three titles and this could be the fourth. To get four trophies in a season is a great achievement and it is what we are aiming for."

Going-away present
The German international has two extra incentives to reach the Manchester final. It would be the first European final of his career; and lifting the UEFA Cup would represent the perfect send-off for his coach and captain, with Hitzfeld and Oliver Kahn both due to leave Bayern. "We would really like to get Oliver this victory before he retires, and to do it for the coach as well because he is also leaving in the summer."