Bayern Munich's Sebastian Rode reacts during their Champions League quarterfinal first leg match against Porto(File photo: Reuters)
Soccer-Fatigue, injuries take toll on Bayern Munich
Bayern CEO Rummenigge says the team is tired but not ready to give up.
Bayern Munich's surprise 3-1 Champions League loss to Porto was the price the five-time European champions paid for a string of injuries and a tired squad that has not stopped playing, club boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.
The Bavarians, chasing a treble of domestic and European titles, travelled with only 15 in-field players to Portugal for their quarter-final first leg leaving injured Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger and David Alaba, among others, behind.
PORTUGAL SOCCER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
"I am not prepared to criticize the team," Bayern CEO Rummenigge said in post-midnight banquet. "There are 13 or 14 players who are at the moment healthy and have been playing three times a week."
Bayern have been cruising towards the Bundesliga title with a 10-point advantage as the injuries seem to hardly affect them domestically.
"Strongest asset"
"But there comes a day when you are a little bit tired, when your legs feel heavy and when you lack some of your concentration," Rummenigge said.
A lack of concentration certainly contributed to the three goals they conceded, each coming from an individual defensive mistake.
What had been for much of the season their strongest asset -- Bayern conceded just four goals in their first 17 Bundesliga games -- was on Wednesday their Achilles heel.
But there comes a day when you are a little bit tired, when your legs feel heavy and when you lack some of your concentration
Bayern Munich CEO, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Jerome Boateng, Xabi Alonso and Dante, all lost possession or control near the box, allowing the Portuguese to score.
"We imagined it differently," said keeper Manuel Neuer, who was lucky not to be sent off after bringing down Jackson Martinez for a third-minute penalty.
"Complicated result"
"We were not confident and did not create scoring chances. The other problem was the mistakes we made. You are punished in the Champions League for those. We know we messed up together but we have to keep going."
While Bayern are not used to losing, they have every chance to overturn the first leg deficit, with Ribery and possibly Schweinsteiger fit for the return leg in Munich on Tuesday.
Rummenigge AP
"I am not fully dissatisfied with the team," coach Pep Guardiola said. "We tried everything but it is not easy against such a physical team.
"It is a complicated result but we will take a shot at it in the return leg and we will not give up that easily."
