With a vigorous step, and his jacket rushed Niko Kovac to the plane. The Munich coach embodied the whole of the determination of the FC Bayern wants to go in the first knockout round of the Champions League matches, Europe’s major football powers out of the way. For this purpose, the group win against Ajax Amsterdam. “We are number 1, we want to keep it,” said a self-confident Kovac on the evening before the group finale with easily are scratched voice.

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The job to last three Victories at Kovac and the Stars, in which Arjen Robben was missing in his home country disappointed, named Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “We also want to be to the game first. The group of the second are less than what you may about Barcelona or Real Madrid to expect“, said the Chairman of the Board. Champions-League-period winner in Madrid and Barcelona are like the not-so-strong FC Porto as group winners. Manchester City, with former Coach Pep Guardiola and Juventus with Cristiano Ronaldo are in front of the goal. That should give the FC Bayern Munich in the group finale on Wednesday (21.00 h in the F. A. Z.-Liveticker zur Champions League and Sky) for an Extra Kick. “Quite the firecracker”, according to Rummenigge. But, assured Kovac that big names “don’t want to play against us”.

from Rummenigge to the speaker at the airport, instructed sporting Director Hasan Salihamidzic called a success in the Johan-Cruyff-Arena. “It is with a view to the knockout stages is very important, because you could theoretically catch maybe an easier opponent,” he said. According to Rummenigge Salihamidzic is working “at the Moment, with full steam to the future of FC Bayern”. Only once but it needs to be the presence successfully mastered, in the Winter, the Munich-based sort for a new attack. On Dortmund and in Europe.

A bitter message, but at the Start of the Amsterdam-trip: The ailing seals have also increased in the Lufthansa Special flight. On its six-month-long farewell tour, one last mission remains to him in his home once denied. Coach Kovac will use his rotation to stop so in all likelihood the same team that won against Bremen and Nürnberg. “I don’t think I will be too much change,” said the Coach.

A draw is enough for Bayern, for the first time since the season 2015/16 and a total of 15. To end a group at the top. After the last three victories for the second round qualified the low countries in the first proper test have stabilized, as well the Kovac-Bayern. “The lads have come back well back on track,” said Rummenigge. “We want to play this season, not only with propriety, but also with success to the end. Accordingly, it is important that we Wednesday to deliver a good performance.“

the will be Drawn on 12./13. or 19./20. February and 5./6. or 12./13. March, held eighth-final games on Monday in Nyon. “You always want to have the first place, and against the Second of another group play. That is our goal,“ said captain Manuel Neuer. After 1:1 in the first leg, Ajax are brought talents such as Frenkie De Jong (21) and Matthijs de Ligt (19) in the German focus. Both should already be on the wish list for Munich, but also other top clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain curls with wrong totals. “Ajax has done a good job in the youth Academy. The are good players, no question,“ said Salihamidzic. “We have a lot of players that we are watching.”