Bayern Munich sail into Club World Cup final
19 Dec 2013 5:43 AM IST
European champions Bayern Munich booked their place in the Club World Cup final with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande in Tuesday’s semi-final in Agadir.
Goals by France winger Franck Ribery, Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic and Germany star Mario Goetze saw the German giants through to Saturday’s final in Marrakech, Morocco.
‘We totally dominated and we wanted to reach the final to spare ourselves the third-place play-off,’ said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm. ‘We want the title, that is our task here.’
Likewise, Ribery insisted Bayern did not come to north Africa to see the sights. ‘We’re in the final, we’re professionals and we want to win in Morocco,’ he said. Bayern will face the winners of Wednesday night’s second semi-final between Morocco’s Raja Casablanca and Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro. Already twice a winner of the Club World Cup title with his former club Barcelona, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola is on course for a third global crown as his German champions swept aside Marcello Lippi’s Guangzhou.
Having become the first German team to win the treble of European, Bundesliga and domestic cup titles, Bayern are closing in on their fifth title of 2013, having also won Uefa’s Super Cup by beating Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out in August.
But Guardiola made a point of praising predecessor Jupp Heynckes, who coached the treble-winning team. ‘Jupp deserves to be here, to reach the final is a huge achievement, but you only get here by winning a lot of matches,’ said Guardiola.
Goals by France winger Franck Ribery, Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic and Germany star Mario Goetze saw the German giants through to Saturday’s final in Marrakech, Morocco.
‘We totally dominated and we wanted to reach the final to spare ourselves the third-place play-off,’ said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm. ‘We want the title, that is our task here.’
Likewise, Ribery insisted Bayern did not come to north Africa to see the sights. ‘We’re in the final, we’re professionals and we want to win in Morocco,’ he said. Bayern will face the winners of Wednesday night’s second semi-final between Morocco’s Raja Casablanca and Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro. Already twice a winner of the Club World Cup title with his former club Barcelona, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola is on course for a third global crown as his German champions swept aside Marcello Lippi’s Guangzhou.
Having become the first German team to win the treble of European, Bundesliga and domestic cup titles, Bayern are closing in on their fifth title of 2013, having also won Uefa’s Super Cup by beating Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out in August.
But Guardiola made a point of praising predecessor Jupp Heynckes, who coached the treble-winning team. ‘Jupp deserves to be here, to reach the final is a huge achievement, but you only get here by winning a lot of matches,’ said Guardiola.
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