The Champions League groups were drawn on Thursday evening. BVB was hit particularly hard. The voices of the German clubs
For the last time, the Champions League will be played in the tried and tested format. As is well known, from the 2024/25 season it will continue in the league system. Which is why the German teams seem to be looking forward to some tough groups.
In Group A, Bayern will face Manchester United, FC Copenhagen for the first time ever and Galatasaray for the second time. “You have to take every game seriously,” warned Andreas Jung, Bayern’s marketing director, on the sidelines of the draw in Monaco: “We have a balanced record against Manchester United. This is a group where we already have a chance of progressing, but we have to approach it seriously.”
“Manchester United are one of the really big names in European football and we have some historic duels with them,” Bayern’s CEO Jan-Christian Dressen said, clarifying, “Since we won the title in Lisbon in 2020, we’ve been knocked out in the quarter-finals three times now, so it’s our great wish to go a little further again this season, but to do that we first have to make it through in Group A. “
Ex-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, who played for Bayern and ManUnited, called it “a perfect group for me” via Twitter. He is already looking forward to the two matches between the Group A giants. New summer signing Harry Kane let it be known via social media: “I can’t wait.” His name has also been linked with the Red Devils this summer.
Thomas Müller is looking forward to a “stint in world football” with ManUnited and “a former coach of Bayern amateurs” with Erik ten Hag. The veteran is eagerly anticipating the final group stage of the Champions League: “The English weeks are the salt in the soup in our calendar – accordingly: Let’s go!”
Zingler: “Today has made a lot of Unioners happy “
In Group C, Union Berlin will face record winners Real Madrid, Serie A champions Napoli and Sporting Braga in their Champions League premiere as the glaring underdogs. It is quite possible that the Köpenickers will compete with Braga for a place in the Europa League.
But Union also likes to take on the heavyweights. “Competition matches against Real and Napoli are exceptional,” commented Union President Dirk Zingler on the historic draw: “With Braga, we have an opponent we already know from the UEFA Europa League. Today has made not only me, but very many Union players happy. “
Defender Robin Knoche also looked bright-eyed. “A great group with strong opponents, beautiful stadiums and certainly a breathtaking atmosphere,” the defender explained, adding: “Together with our fans, we are looking forward to the games in the Champions League.” The crowds for the Champions League games at the Olympiastadion were huge.
Watzke knows: “You need extraordinary performances “
Borussia Dortmund have undoubtedly got the toughest opponents, facing Paris Saint-Germain, Milan and Newcastle United in Group F. “Our group is certainly the most difficult one. “Our group is certainly the most difficult, a hammer group,” said BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke: “But we’ll take it. We face three absolute top opponents. To survive in this group, you need exceptional performances, and that’s exactly what we’re hoping for from our team. “
Head coach Edin Terzic called the group “a real challenge”. But: “A challenge we are looking forward to and we are approaching it with full conviction. That doesn’t change the fact that we’re going into the Champions League with big ambitions and want to get into the knockout phase.”
Captain Emre Can is also aware of the balance, believing that “every team has the quality to get into the knockout stage. That is our goal. We have a tough task ahead of us, but we are certainly not the ideal opponent for the other teams either.
Eberl wants to say goodbye to Gvardiol “in a dignified setting “
The fourth and final German team in the competition is RB Leipzig, who will face defending champions Manchester City, Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys Bern in Group G. Max Eberl took the “hat-trick” against ManCity with mixed feelings. “We have experienced first-hand how good this team is,” said the sporting director, referring to the 7-0 defeat last March.
But the Saxons are by no means without a chance. Eberl sees one advantage anyway: “We can say goodbye to Josko in a dignified setting.” The Croatian Josko Gvardiol had left RB for Manchester only a few weeks ago and had risen to become the most expensive defender in the world with this transfer.
Eberl called Belgrade and Bern “interesting, exciting draws”, but also opponents “that we can definitely beat”. With Young Boys he associates an encounter in the Champions League play-offs with Borussia Mönchengladbach and a match on artificial turf, with Red Star “a lot of emotions and a heated atmosphere”.
