18.03.2010
I wouldn't bet on Bayern, says coach van Gaal
Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal said Thursday he would not bet on the German giants winning their first Champions League title since 2001 on the eve of this season's quarter-final draw.
Bayern booked their berth in European football's top competition despite a 3-2 defeat at Italian side Fiorentina 10 days ago with the draw for the last eight taking place at 1200 on Friday (1100 GMT) in Nyon, Switzerland.
Last season's winners Barcelona and runners-up Manchester United are amongst the favourites to again reach the final in Madrid on May 22 and van Gaal says he would not bet on Bayern lifting the trophy in Spain.
"If I had to bet on the winners of the Champions League, I would not bet on Bayern Munich," said van Gaal, whose side top the Bundesliga.
"I think Barcelona and Manchester are the teams (to beat)."
"(Sir Alex) Ferguson has been at Manchester United for more than 20 years, (Pep) Guardiola has been at Barcelona for nearly two years now and they have some players of real quality."
Defending champions Barcelona dispatched Bundesliga side Stuttgart in Wednesday's Last-16 tie with a comfortable 4-0 win at their Nou Camp stadium and the Dutchman says the Spaniards are the favourites.
"Barcelona are the top favourites for me," said van Gaal.
"They showed that impressively against Stuttgart and Manchester are also strong.
"It would be unbelievable for me, if we were to succeed against teams like these.
"We would need to have some luck and everything would need to go our way."
The first-leg for the quarter-finals takes place on March 30/31 and April 6/7 and Bayern captain Mark van Bommel says he hopes his side meets anyone except Barcelona.
"From now on, all teams are dangerous," said van Bommel with Barcelona, Manchester United, Bordeaux, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Lyon and CSKA Moscow joining Bayern in the last eight.
"It would be great if we were away for the first leg."
Bayern's chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge agreed with van Gaal that Bayern are not one of the favourites to win this season's Champions League title.
"We are not one of the favourites to win the Champions League," Rummenigge told Die Welt.
"We are still a little bit away from the top sides.
"But our goal for the next few years is to become stable to close that gap as we can get closer to the other clubs."
Source: © 2010 AFP - Oliver Lang
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