Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer has said that the club is fully focused on this season’s Champions League, with the final set to take place at their home ground, the Allianz Arena in Munich.
“Something big is coming,” Neuer said ahead of Bayern’s opening match against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday. “The final in Munich is the most important thing. We’re aiming to get there, and everything else comes second.”
The Bayern captain highlighted the significance of the final to the city, the fans, and the team, stating that the squad’s motivation is “extremely high.”
Bayern, six-time European champions, head into the season after their first trophyless campaign in over a decade, with Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen claiming both the league and cup titles. In last season’s Champions League, Bayern were knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual winners Real Madrid, who later beat Borussia Dortmund in the final.
Neuer, along with fellow veteran Thomas Müller, are the only players remaining from Bayern’s 2012 squad that lost the final at home to Chelsea on penalties. Both were also part of Bayern’s Champions League victories in 2013 and 2020.
Bayern’s manager, Vincent Kompany, who is set to make his Champions League debut as a coach, encouraged fans to dream big. “The most important thing is how we perform on the pitch. We have a tough game tomorrow, and our focus is on playing well and winning.”
Bayern have a remarkable record in their opening Champions League matches, having won every one of them since 2002, when a 3-2 loss to Deportivo La Coruna marked their only group stage elimination.