Rampant Bayern dismiss United's slump ahead of Quarter-Final
Pep Guardiola's side are familiar with the "favorites" label - but the Spanish coach is not comfortable with the tag. Bayern head to a crisis-hit Manchester United in a bid to aid their progression to the last-four.
Bastian Schweinsteiger could have been lining up for the team wearing red Tuesday night. But instead, the 29-year-old has become the first player under the age of 30 to have won seven Bundesliga championships at Bayern. If you add a further six German Cup winners medals, four other German domestic honors and a Champions League trophy - plus two runner-up finishes - then there might not be much room left on Schweinsteiger's mantel piece. Yet, Schweinsteiger was written off as a player on the decline after a problematic ankle injury which has become a nuisance for the midfielder. He underwent surgery twice in less than five months, but made a recovery during the club's recent winter training camp in Qatar. Since then, the German has wound back the clock, showing the same combination of tenacity, commitment and passing qualities that cemented his place in the middle of the park in the first place. With Thiago Alcantara on the sidelines for both legs following an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in Saturday's 3-3 draw at Hoffenheim, Schweinsteiger's importance to the team has increased tenfold. Losing the man who makes Bayern tick in a possession sense is bad enough, so Schweinsteiger will be key at Old Trafford. Bayern Munich's record on English soil is far from impressive: they've won just one from four matches at Old Trafford and only five from 18 in total. However, on their last trip to the Red Devils, Arjen Robben's sumptuous volley was enough to send the Germans through on aggregate (4-3) after a 3-2 defeat on the night. Bayern travel to England Tuesday evening (18:45 UTC) with many expecting the record English champions to roll over after a testing period. "I know it'll be unbelievably difficult. I've never won at Old Trafford," Schweinsteiger said. "It's great to have already one title, but we can't lose focus now." "We want to win every remaining game," he added. "We're a team that wants to win every game - even in training. This is no different." "All the coaches around the world do not want to be favorites," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. "They do not like the title. I have to accept that." "Bayern Munich won everything last year and are now 25 points ahead in Bundesliga," he added. "But there are eight teams in the quarter-finals and they all want to win the title. In the last 28 years Bayern won it twice, so it is difficult." Walking in big shoes The transition from Sir Alex Ferguson to David Moyes has been rough to say the least. Last season's English champions sit in seventh - outside of the Champions League positions - with Europe's premier club tournament the only glimmer of hope in a turbulent campaign. Guardiola was in a sympathetic mood during Monday's press conference and admitted the troubles Moyes has faced "can happen to him tomorrow." "It's been a very good competition for us so far in my short time here," Moyes said pre-match. "I came into it very inexperienced in the Champions League but we've done well and now we've got the ultimate test in Bayern Munich." The Red Devils are nursing some injury concerns in defense, but most troublingly to Robin van Persie, who will miss Tuesday's match. Both Rafael and Patrice Evra won't be available for selection either for the Scot. As cup-tied Juan Manuel Mata sits in the stands, Bayern will face a former foe in Shinji Kagawa. The Japanese midfielder won back-to-back titles at Borussia Dortmund and scored two goals against the Bavarians during his time in the Ruhr Valley.
Bayern
Bavaria FC_Bayern_Munich Bayern_(horse) FC_Bayern_Munich_(basketball) Bayern_(song) German_frigate_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_(women) Bayern-class_battleship Bavarian_Cup SMS_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_II Regionalliga_Bayern Kingdom_of_Bavaria Hamburg-class_destroyer
United
United_Airlines United_S.C. United_and_uniting_churches United_(2011_film) United_Party_(New_Zealand) United! Queensland_United_Party United_Church_of_Canada Sheffield_United_F.C. United_New_Zealand United_(band) United_(Star_Trek:_Enterprise) National_Party_(Queensland,_1917) Manchester_United_F.C. United_Records United_(Marvin_Gaye_and_Tammi_Terrell_album)
Quarter-Final
Single-elimination_tournament 2014–15_Euroleague_Quarterfinals 2013_Copa_del_Rey_Juvenil 2015_Rugby_World_Cup_knockout_stage Magyar_Kupa 2011_Rugby_World_Cup_knockout_stage 2006_Copa_del_Rey_Juvenil 2015_Copa_del_Rey_Juvenil 2011_Copa_del_Rey_Juvenil 2002_Copa_del_Rey_Juvenil 2001_Copa_del_Rey_Juvenil 2018_Copa_del_Rey_Juvenil 2004_Copa_del_Rey_Juvenil 2011_Turkmenistan_Cup 2014–15_Armenian_Cup 2013–14_Armenian_Cup
Pep Guardiola
Pep_Guardiola
Spanish
Bayern
Bavaria FC_Bayern_Munich Bayern_(horse) FC_Bayern_Munich_(basketball) Bayern_(song) German_frigate_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_(women) Bayern-class_battleship Bavarian_Cup SMS_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_II Regionalliga_Bayern Kingdom_of_Bavaria Hamburg-class_destroyer
Manchester United
Manchester_United_F.C. Manchester_United_F.C._Reserves_and_Academy Manchester_United_W.F.C. Manchester_Giants_(1975–2001) Manchester_United_(video_game_series) Manchester_62_F.C. Manchester_Eagles 1998–99_Manchester_United_F.C._season Glazer_ownership_of_Manchester_United Manchester_Giants Manchester_City_F.C. 2010–11_Manchester_United_F.C._season Manchester_United_(song) Manchester_United_Football_Ground_railway_station Paul_McGuigan_(musician) Leeds_United_F.C.–Manchester_United_F.C._rivalry
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Bastian_Schweinsteiger
Tuesday night
Bundesliga
Bundesliga Frauen-Bundesliga Basketball_Bundesliga Austrian_Football_Bundesliga 2016–17_Bundesliga 2013–14_Bundesliga Handball-Bundesliga 2007–08_Bundesliga Bundesliga_(baseball) 2012–13_Bundesliga 2014–15_Bundesliga 2011–12_Bundesliga Handball-Bundesliga_(women) 2008–09_Bundesliga 2009–10_Bundesliga 2015–16_Bundesliga
Bayern
Bavaria FC_Bayern_Munich Bayern_(horse) FC_Bayern_Munich_(basketball) Bayern_(song) German_frigate_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_(women) Bayern-class_battleship Bavarian_Cup SMS_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_II Regionalliga_Bayern Kingdom_of_Bavaria Hamburg-class_destroyer
German Cup
DFB-Pokal BBL-Pokal DFB-Pokal_(women) DHB-Pokal German_Cup_(ice_hockey) 2011–12_DFB-Pokal 2009–10_DFB-Pokal 2012–13_DFB-Pokal 2016–17_DFB-Pokal 2006–07_DFB-Pokal 2008–09_DFB-Pokal 2018–19_DFB-Pokal 2015–16_DFB-Pokal 2010–11_DFB-Pokal 2005–06_DFB-Pokal German_Rugby_Union_Cup
German
Champions League
UEFA_Champions_League UEFA_Women's_Champions_League 2012–13_UEFA_Champions_League 2013–14_UEFA_Champions_League 2009–10_UEFA_Champions_League 2014–15_UEFA_Champions_League 2010–11_UEFA_Champions_League Women's_EHF_Champions_League 2011–12_UEFA_Champions_League 2008–09_UEFA_Champions_League 2015–16_UEFA_Champions_League 2016–17_UEFA_Champions_League 2006–07_UEFA_Champions_League 2017–18_UEFA_Champions_League 2007–08_UEFA_Champions_League Basketball_Champions_League
Schweinsteiger
Bastian_Schweinsteiger
Schweinsteiger
Bastian_Schweinsteiger
Qatar
Qatar Qatar_national_football_team Qatar_Football_Association Qatar_national_under-23_football_team Qatar_national_basketball_team Qatar_national_cricket_team Qatar_national_handball_team Qatar_national_under-20_football_team Football_in_Qatar Losail_International_Circuit Asian_Volleyball_Confederation Energy_in_Qatar Qatar_SC 2015_Qatar_motorcycle_Grand_Prix 2022_FIFA_World_Cup Qatar_Stars_League
German
Thiago Alcantara
Thiago_Alcântara
Saturday
Hoffenheim
TSG_1899_Hoffenheim Hoffenheim TSG_1899_Hoffenheim_(women)
Schweinsteiger
Bastian_Schweinsteiger
Bayern
Bavaria FC_Bayern_Munich Bayern_(horse) FC_Bayern_Munich_(basketball) Bayern_(song) German_frigate_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_(women) Bayern-class_battleship Bavarian_Cup SMS_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_II Regionalliga_Bayern Kingdom_of_Bavaria Hamburg-class_destroyer
Schweinsteiger
Bastian_Schweinsteiger
Old Trafford
Old_Trafford Old_Trafford_Cricket_Ground Old_Trafford_(district) Old_Trafford_tram_stop Lancashire_County_Cricket_Club
Bayern Munich
FC_Bayern_Munich FC_Bayern_Munich_(basketball) FC_Bayern_Munich_(women) FC_Bayern_Munich_Junior_Team FC_Bayern_Munich_II 1975–76_FC_Bayern_Munich_season
English
Old Trafford
Old_Trafford Old_Trafford_Cricket_Ground Old_Trafford_(district) Old_Trafford_tram_stop Lancashire_County_Cricket_Club
Red Devils
Red_Devils_(Parachute_Regiment) Red_Devils_(supporters_club) Belgium_national_football_team Eureka_Red_Devils Red_Devil_(interurban) Wallaceburg_Red_Devils 1._FC_Kaiserslautern Kid_Devil Dickinson_Red_Devils Red_Devils_(film) Deportivo_Toluca_F.C. Salford_Red_Devils Red_Devil Diablos_Rojos_del_México Devil Allen_Red_Devils
Arjen Robben
Arjen_Robben
Germans
Bayern
Bavaria FC_Bayern_Munich Bayern_(horse) FC_Bayern_Munich_(basketball) Bayern_(song) German_frigate_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_(women) Bayern-class_battleship Bavarian_Cup SMS_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_II Regionalliga_Bayern Kingdom_of_Bavaria Hamburg-class_destroyer
England
England England_national_football_team England_cricket_team England_national_rugby_union_team England_national_rugby_league_team Kingdom_of_England Rugby_Football_Union England_women's_national_football_team The_Football_Association England_women's_cricket_team Football_in_England England_women's_national_rugby_union_team Great_Britain_national_speedway_team England_national_under-21_football_team England_national_under-20_rugby_union_team England_men's_national_hockey_team
Tuesday evening
18:45 UTC
English
Old Trafford
Old_Trafford Old_Trafford_Cricket_Ground Old_Trafford_(district) Old_Trafford_tram_stop Lancashire_County_Cricket_Club
Schweinsteiger
Bastian_Schweinsteiger
Bayern
Bavaria FC_Bayern_Munich Bayern_(horse) FC_Bayern_Munich_(basketball) Bayern_(song) German_frigate_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_(women) Bayern-class_battleship Bavarian_Cup SMS_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_II Regionalliga_Bayern Kingdom_of_Bavaria Hamburg-class_destroyer
coach
Pep Guardiola
Pep_Guardiola
Bayern Munich
FC_Bayern_Munich FC_Bayern_Munich_(basketball) FC_Bayern_Munich_(women) FC_Bayern_Munich_Junior_Team FC_Bayern_Munich_II 1975–76_FC_Bayern_Munich_season
Bundesliga
Bundesliga Frauen-Bundesliga Basketball_Bundesliga Austrian_Football_Bundesliga 2016–17_Bundesliga 2013–14_Bundesliga Handball-Bundesliga 2007–08_Bundesliga Bundesliga_(baseball) 2012–13_Bundesliga 2014–15_Bundesliga 2011–12_Bundesliga Handball-Bundesliga_(women) 2008–09_Bundesliga 2009–10_Bundesliga 2015–16_Bundesliga
Bayern
Bavaria FC_Bayern_Munich Bayern_(horse) FC_Bayern_Munich_(basketball) Bayern_(song) German_frigate_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_(women) Bayern-class_battleship Bavarian_Cup SMS_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_II Regionalliga_Bayern Kingdom_of_Bavaria Hamburg-class_destroyer
Sir
Alex Ferguson
Alex_Ferguson Alex_Ferguson_(baseball) Alex_Fergusson_(musician) Alex_Ferguson_(footballer,_born_1903)
David Moyes
David_Moyes
English
Champions League
UEFA_Champions_League UEFA_Women's_Champions_League 2012–13_UEFA_Champions_League 2013–14_UEFA_Champions_League 2009–10_UEFA_Champions_League 2014–15_UEFA_Champions_League 2010–11_UEFA_Champions_League Women's_EHF_Champions_League 2011–12_UEFA_Champions_League 2008–09_UEFA_Champions_League 2015–16_UEFA_Champions_League 2016–17_UEFA_Champions_League 2006–07_UEFA_Champions_League 2017–18_UEFA_Champions_League 2007–08_UEFA_Champions_League Basketball_Champions_League
Europe
Guardiola
Guardiola_(plant) Pep_Guardiola
Monday
Moyes
David_Moyes Moyes Johnny_Moyes
Moyes
David_Moyes Moyes Johnny_Moyes
Champions League
UEFA_Champions_League UEFA_Women's_Champions_League 2012–13_UEFA_Champions_League 2013–14_UEFA_Champions_League 2009–10_UEFA_Champions_League 2014–15_UEFA_Champions_League 2010–11_UEFA_Champions_League Women's_EHF_Champions_League 2011–12_UEFA_Champions_League 2008–09_UEFA_Champions_League 2015–16_UEFA_Champions_League 2016–17_UEFA_Champions_League 2006–07_UEFA_Champions_League 2017–18_UEFA_Champions_League 2007–08_UEFA_Champions_League Basketball_Champions_League
Bayern Munich
FC_Bayern_Munich FC_Bayern_Munich_(basketball) FC_Bayern_Munich_(women) FC_Bayern_Munich_Junior_Team FC_Bayern_Munich_II 1975–76_FC_Bayern_Munich_season
Red Devils
Red_Devils_(Parachute_Regiment) Red_Devils_(supporters_club) Belgium_national_football_team Eureka_Red_Devils Red_Devil_(interurban) Wallaceburg_Red_Devils 1._FC_Kaiserslautern Kid_Devil Dickinson_Red_Devils Red_Devils_(film) Deportivo_Toluca_F.C. Salford_Red_Devils Red_Devil Diablos_Rojos_del_México Devil Allen_Red_Devils
Robin van Persie
Robin_van_Persie
Tuesday
Rafael
Rafael_(footballer,_born_1990) Rafael_Advanced_Defense_Systems Rafael_Cabral Rafael_(football_goalkeeper,_born_1982) Rafael_Pires Rafael_Pires_Vieira Rafael_Teixeira_de_Souza Rafael_Batlle_Pacheco Raphael_(given_name) Rafael_Souza_Silva_Novais Rafael_Durval_da_Costa_Lira Rafael_Pereira_da_Silva_(footballer,_born_1980) Raphael Rafael_Sperafico Rafael_Ferrer_(actor) Rafael_Henmi
Patrice Evra
Patrice_Evra
Scot
Juan Manuel Mata
Juan_Mata
Bayern
Bavaria FC_Bayern_Munich Bayern_(horse) FC_Bayern_Munich_(basketball) Bayern_(song) German_frigate_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_(women) Bayern-class_battleship Bavarian_Cup SMS_Bayern FC_Bayern_Munich_II Regionalliga_Bayern Kingdom_of_Bavaria Hamburg-class_destroyer
Shinji Kagawa
Shinji_Kagawa
Japanese
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia_Dortmund Borussia_Dortmund_(Superleague_Formula_team) Borussia_Dortmund_Youth_Sector Borussia_Dortmund_Handball Borussia_Dortmund_II FC_Bayern_Munich
Bavarians
Ruhr Valley
Ruhr_(river) Ruhr Ruhr_coalfield Occupation_of_the_Ruhr
Manchester United
Manchester_United_F.C.
iptc::15000000 sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::organization type::sport_team
Bayern Munich
FC_Bayern_Munich
iptc::15000000 slot::keyword sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::organization type::sport_team
German Cup
DFB-Pokal
iptc::15000000 slot::keyword sport::20001065 sport_event::20001116 topic::sport type::competition type::entity type::event type::sport_competition
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Bastian_Schweinsteiger
gender::male iptc::15000000 slot::keyword sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::person type::sport_player
Bundesliga
Bundesliga
iptc::15000000 slot::keyword sport::20001065 sport_event::20001115 topic::sport type::competition type::entity type::event type::sport_competition
Champions League
UEFA_Champions_League
iptc::15000000 slot::keyword sport::20001065 sport_event::20001110 topic::sport type::competition type::entity type::event type::sport_competition
Pep Guardiola
Pep_Guardiola
gender::male iptc::15000000 sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::person type::sport_coach
David Moyes
David_Moyes
gender::male iptc::15000000 topic::sport type::entity type::person type::sport_head
Quarter-Final
iptc::15000000 sport::20001065 sport_event::20001110 topic::sport type::competition type::entity type::event type::sport_competition
Spanish
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
Tuesday night
topic::none type::time type::value
German
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
Qatar
Qatar
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Thiago Alcantara
Thiago_Alcântara
gender::male iptc::15000000 sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::person type::sport_player
Saturday
topic::none type::time type::value
Hoffenheim
TSG_1899_Hoffenheim
iptc::15000000 sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::organization type::sport_team
Old Trafford
Old_Trafford
iptc::15000000 topic::sport type::entity type::facility type::location type::sport_facility
English
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
Arjen Robben
Arjen_Robben
gender::male iptc::15000000 sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::person type::sport_player
Germans
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
England
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Tuesday evening
topic::none type::time type::value
18:45 UTC
topic::none type::time type::value
English
meta::todo
coach
topic::none type::role type::value
Sir
topic::none type::role type::value
Alex Ferguson
Alex_Ferguson
gender::male iptc::15000000 topic::sport type::entity type::person type::sport_head
Europe
meta::todo
Monday
topic::none type::time type::value
Robin van Persie
Robin_van_Persie
gender::male iptc::15000000 sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::person type::sport_player
Tuesday
topic::none type::time type::value
Rafael
gender::male iptc::15000000 sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::person type::sport_player
Patrice Evra
Patrice_Evra
gender::male iptc::15000000 sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::person type::sport_player
Scot
topic::none type::gpe1-x type::other
Juan Manuel Mata
Juan_Mata
gender::male iptc::15000000 sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::person type::sport_player
Shinji Kagawa
Shinji_Kagawa
gender::male iptc::15000000 sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::person type::sport_player
Japanese
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia_Dortmund
iptc::15000000 sport::20001065 topic::sport type::entity type::organization type::sport_team
Bavarians
topic::none type::gpe1-x type::other
Ruhr Valley
topic::none type::entity type::location type::regio
Germany
Spain
Japan
United_Kingdom
Bavaria
Scotland