Bayern Munich vs Manchester United discussion

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola expects Manchester United to park the bus when they come to the Allianz Arena.

Bastian Schweinsteiger's second-half equaliser at Old Trafford last week means United have to score at Bayern's fortress on Wednesday night to progress to the Champions League semi-finals.

But Guardiola is not bracing himself for an attacking onslaught from the reigning Premier League champions.

The Spaniard - and Bayern - have found life tough against English teams on a few occasions recently due to the tactics employed by their opponents.

Two years ago Chelsea edged into the final with a 3-2 aggregate win that was characterised by stubborn defending and fast counter-attacks.

It was the same story in Bavaria the following month when the Blues defended for their lives and beat Bayern in their own stadium on penalties to lift the trophy for the first time.

"They are so defensive," the Bayern coach said when asked about his experience of playing English teams.

"They use the counter-attack very well.

"It's always difficult when one team stays there just to defend, and waits until you make a mistake.

"Obviously when they play at home they attack a little bit more but when they play away they defend.

"Maybe (United manager) David Moyes thinks another thing, but I think they are going to wait back with eight or nine players in the box, await our mistake and wait for a free-kick or a corner to punish us."

Many expected Bayern to give United a real hiding at Old Trafford, but Nemanja Vidic's header means United's slim hopes of reaching Lisbon are still alive.

Wayne Rooney was key to last week's draw as he put in another typically combative display to trouble the German side's defence.

The England striker was hobbling towards the end of the first leg with a toe injury which caused him to miss United's 4-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday.

Rooney took part in United's final training session before the second leg and Guardiola fully expects the 28-year-old to play in Germany.

Anyone at Guardiola's pre-match press conference would have assumed that it was the Bayern coach and not his opposite number who had problems, though.

The near half-hour session was full of questions about whether Bayern had lost their confidence, their rhythm and belief.

That will come as a surprise to most as Bayern won the Bundesliga two weeks ago with a record seven matches to spare, while United are only seventh in the Premier League.

The reason those questions arose was because Bayern's 53-match unbeaten streak came to an end on Saturday when they lost to Bundesliga minnows FC Augsburg.

Guardiola sought to play down the defeat, in which he fielded three debutants.

"I am sad we lost, but the game against United here has been our target for the last couple of weeks," Guardiola said.

M99 wrote:Pep Guardiola on Rooney's fitness:

"He is going to play. One hundred per cent. He is going to play. I bet you a big, big glass of beer. I believe he is going to play, and Valencia too.

"Rooney is going to play. He is a big player, one of the best players I've ever seen in my career. I'm sure he's going to play."

M99 wrote:Pep Guardiola on Rooney's fitness:

"He is going to play. One hundred per cent. He is going to play. I bet you a big, big glass of beer. I believe he is going to play, and Valencia too.

"Rooney is going to play. He is a big player, one of the best players I've ever seen in my career. I'm sure he's going to play."

RealGunner wrote:

M99 wrote:Pep Guardiola on Rooney's fitness:

"He is going to play. One hundred per cent. He is going to play. I bet you a big, big glass of beer. I believe he is going to play, and Valencia too.

"Rooney is going to play. He is a big player, one of the best players I've ever seen in my career. I'm sure he's going to play."

Guardiola rates Rooney but GL doesn't

RealGunner wrote:Guardiola rates Rooney but GL doesn't

Spoiler:

M99 wrote:I bet you a big, big glass of beer.

rwo power wrote:

RealGunner wrote:Guardiola rates Rooney but GL doesn't

That's why Pep earns millions as coach and GL doesn't

Spoiler:

Fußball wrote:

M99 wrote:I bet you a big, big glass of beer.

lol

Look at this pos acting like a full time Bavarian. Can't wait for CL specialist Moysie to show him up.

David Moyes wrote:Nearly everyone asked me at the start about my inexperience in CL. None asked me the other night, it must have slipped your minds

Busby Babe wrote:

Fußball wrote:

M99 wrote:I bet you a big, big glass of beer.

lol

Look at this pos acting like a full time Bavarian. Can't wait for CL specialist Moysie to show him up.

David Moyes wrote:Nearly everyone asked me at the start about my inexperience in CL. None asked me the other night, it must have slipped your minds

Art Morte wrote:It's obvious United are going to have to sit deep and play on the counter - United fans just need to hope that Moyes realizes this inevitability and makes that his game plan, too, then it might work a bit. Have Welbeck and a winger (I'd use Nani coz he is quick and can beat a man or why not Januzaj) ready to gallop up the moment United get the ball, with Rooney and Valencia charging up in the second wave and just simply force a quick decision, no matter how bad. No point in trying anything else.

RealGunner wrote:

M99 wrote:Pep Guardiola on Rooney's fitness:

"He is going to play. One hundred per cent. He is going to play. I bet you a big, big glass of beer. I believe he is going to play, and Valencia too.

"Rooney is going to play. He is a big player, one of the best players I've ever seen in my career. I'm sure he's going to play."

Guardiola rates Rooney but GL doesn't

M99 wrote:Manchester United manager David Moyes says Wayne Rooney will "definitely" face Bayern Munich, with the striker willing to take a pain-killing injection if needed.

“My plans would be to do that, though those were my plans in the first leg. It [approach] doesn’t alter a lot because if, Bayern score, we have to score as well. We have to go out and win. We have to be better on the ball than in the first leg. But we also need the determination to get the result.”