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| February 20, 2007 | Tuesday | Safar 2, 1428 |
Bayern can bounce back, says Makaay: Champions League
MADRID, Feb 19: Bayern Munich striker Roy Makaay believes that the four-time European champions can put the bad times behind them in their Champions League last 16 match against Real Madrid on Tuesday.
“If we score one goal here I think that could put us through. The most important thing is that we don't concede any goals,” the Dutch international said at a press conference on Monday.
“We showed what we were capable of in the group stages of the Champions League and we won at Inter Milan.””I think we are going to see a great game here. The problems that both teams are having in their domestic leagues are not going to be seen in the Bernabeu.” But these things happen in football and you can't always play perfect football.
“These sort of matches (in the Champions League) are different and both sides are looking to end their bad streaks. The best players always rise to the occasion in these matches,” commented Makaay.
The former Deportivo La Coruna player, the leading scorer in the Spanish first division during the 2002-03 season, has fond memories of his time in Spain.
“I won all the titles possible with Deportivo. I have fantastic memories,” recalled Makaay, who was part of Deportivo's one and only La Liga triumph in 2000.
Real fans have different memories of Makaay from his time at Deportivo.
He helped spoil their centenary celebration when the Galician side beat Real Madrid in the 2002 Spanish Cup final which had been specially staged the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
However, Makaay had a few words of comfort for his old foe and believes that Real could still lift the Spanish title this season, although they currently lie fourth and are four points adrift of league leaders Barcelona.
“They are not so far from Barcelona and (second-placed) Sevilla. It hasn't been an esepcially bad season for them,” added Makaay, although there are plenty of people who might disagree.—AFP
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