At the latest when the final whistle blew, the FC Bayern Munich pros officially focused their full attention on the Champions League hit against Paris Saint-Germain.
"Let's see what we have to say after the game on Wednesday," said Thomas Müller and stomped off. The German record champions didn't stay long with the 2-1 (1-0) win at VfB Stuttgart, who were threatened with relegation. Without glamor, instead in the end even with a bit of luck, the Munich team had regained the top spot in the Bundesliga that they had previously lost to Borussia Dortmund. "Huge" is the anticipation for PSG, emphasized Leon Goretzka. But he also knows: there must be more to come!
Müller: "The signs are already positive"
"With all due respect" to Stuttgart, mistakes in the round of 16 second leg against the French on Wednesday would probably be punished differently, predicted the midfielder. "Other players are already running into the depths. That must be clear to us." The superstars Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, for example. But you will "be prepared". He thinks the home arena will be "really fun" that evening," said Goretzka.
"I think we're really greedy to put in a top performance," added offensive man Müller, looking ahead to the second part of the duel, in which Bayern took a small lead from the first leg. "The signs are already positive," emphasized the 33-year-old. "We have a 1-0 lead and the stadium is behind us and we have confidence." After all, the 3-0 win against 1. FC Union Berlin a week ago was "super". And in Stuttgart, too, the "job was done."
At least over long distances. After a good hour and the goals of defender Matthijs de Ligt (39th minute) and striker Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting (62nd), Bayern already looked like the sure winner and had probably already switched to the premier class in their minds. With the goal from José Juan Perea (88th), they suddenly found themselves under great pressure again. There was almost a 2-2 draw against VfB for the third time in a row. Not only Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann was "a bit too exciting in the end". De Ligt, who had already saved on his own line in the first half, also found the final phase "not good enough".
Goretzka in particular criticized his team's loss of control. "We made a few mistakes after the 2-0 with the whole idea we had," said the 28-year-old. The claim is different. Namely, downplaying it more confidently. Not too many conclusions could be drawn for the second leg against PSG, said Goretzka. He expects a "completely different game". The last 25 minutes of the first leg, in which substitute Mbappé turned up the heat again for Paris, should be the benchmark, predicted Goretzka. And Müller is also certain: It will be "a completely different caliber" than VfB.
Gnabry and Sane without self-promotion after being substituted on
"We have to find a good balance between offensive power and defensive order," explained coach Nagelsmann. The 35-year-old said he had not yet made a final decision on some positions when he was lined up. But he shouldn't make too many changes. He had already put defender Benjamin Pavard on the bench in Stuttgart because he will be suspended on Wednesday. Instead, Dayot Upamecano returned to the starting XI, which also included Josip Stanisic again. The 22-year-old acts a little more defensively than Manchester City's winter star signing João Cancelo and therefore has good chances to start back right again against PSG.
Substituted national players Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané did not do any self-promotion in the last half hour. After a long injury break, Sadio Mané may not have what it takes for the "huge energy performance" that Bayern want to show against PSG, according to Müller. If they succeed, he knows, "we'll be very difficult to beat."
