Created on 01-05-2009 at 00:00 AM
Precisely 822 days after his last match in charge of Borussia Mönchengladbach, Jupp Heynckes returns to the Bundesliga stage in front of a capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena on Saturday (Live in English from 3.15 pm on FCB.tv Web Radio). In a classic twist of fate, the Bayern caretaker boss leads his temporary charges into battle against his beloved hometown club, where he spent almost 22 successful years as both player and coach.
“Obviously, for me personally, it’s never going to be just any old game. Even now, my sympathies are with Borussia,” Heynckes confessed on Friday prior to the champions’ final pre-match training session. “I’m a down-to-earth guy, but I do have emotions too,” the 63-year-old continued, but faced with the assignment of guiding Bayern to their minimum target of second place and direct qualification for the Champions League, there would be “no allowances” for the club closest to his heart.