FC Bayern have not been handed an insurmountable task in the CL quarter-finals with Arsenal FC. Nevertheless, Thomas Tuchel and those in charge have huge respect for the Gunners.
Arsenal FC is one of Bayern’s favourite opponents. The teams have already met four times in the knockout rounds of the Champions League season, with the German record champions coming out on top each time. Bayern fans were accordingly delighted after today’s quarter-final draw in the top flight.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel, however, is not interested in the past. The 50-year-old knows Arsenal very well from his time in the Premier League and made it clear that the Munich side have been handed a real hammer draw: „We’re playing against one of the best teams in Europe. They have been playing consistently at the top for two years. They are a homogeneous, dangerous team, they score a lot of goals,“ he emphasised after the draw.
„You look forward to these evenings“
Max Eberl also has great respect for the Londoners, who he sees as „one of the top clubs in Europe.“ However, the sporting director has a clear goal in mind: „We want to reach the semi-finals. We are focussed and looking forward to the games. You look forward to these evenings.“
Sporting director Christoph Freund is particularly focussed on the second leg at home in the Allianz Arena, as was the case recently against Lazio Roma: „It’s a difficult but attractive draw. We can look forward to two exciting games. Arsenal’s development is impressive. But we are FC Bayern Munich. We need a really good away game in London. Anything is possible at home with our fans behind us.“
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen is expecting a thrilling clash: „It will definitely be a tough journey to Wembley! As Premier League leaders, Arsenal are in top form and it will be a match of equals. They are no longer the Gunners, against whom we have won the last three games by a clear margin. Nevertheless, the objective is clear: after three successive quarter-final exits, we’re determined to progress.“
