Free-scoring FCB give notice of intent

Had he chosen to, Uli Hoeneß could have waxed lyrical about Bayern’s slick passing, high-tempo attacking play, or impermeable defending. But the FCB general manager, asked what had pleased him most about the DFB Cup holders’ clinical 5-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart in Tuesday’s Round of 16 clash, confined himself to a single word: “Everything.”

Hoeneß praised “football the way you want it to be played,” and described FCB’s scintillating performance as “textbook stuff. I’m utterly thrilled. That was feel-good football.” What pleased the general manager most, quite apart from the result and Bayern’s place in the last eight, was the message it sent out to the club’s rivals. “Our competitors know where we stand now. If we keep playing like that, it’ll be difficult for the others.”