FC Bayern have been drawn in a really tough group in this year's Champions League. Coach Julian Nagelsmann's team face Barcelona, Inter Milan and Viktoria Plzen in Group C. This was the result of the draw in Istanbul on Thursday evening. fcbayern.com has collated the Bayern players' and officials' reaction and assessments of the opponents.
The reaction to the CL draw
„It's certainly a tough group, but we're looking forward to it. Playing against top opponents like these in outstanding stadiums is great fun.”
Hasan Salihamidžić
Board member for sport Hasan Salihamidžić: "It's certainly a tough group, but we're looking forward to it. Playing against top opponents like these in outstanding stadiums is great fun. The guys will have to go full throttle from the off and find a first-rate attitude in every game. Of course we're aiming to come first and will try to win all the games in this attractive group."
„It's a very demanding group full of challenges. We'll have to be fully committed from the start. We're looking forward to that.”
Julian Nagelsmann
Head coach Julian Nagelsmann: "It's a very demanding group full of challenges. Inter have reinforced themselves well. It's a club that has already celebrated many international successes and has been reinvigorated in recent years. With Barcelona, of course, the narrative with Lewy was already preordained. I hope that we can achieve similar results to those against Barça in recent years. Plzen were Czech champions ahead of the Prague clubs, that means something. We'll have to be fully committed from the start. We're looking forward to that."
„Clearly, our goal is to reach the knockout stage.”
Manuel Neuer
Manuel Neuer: "Barcelona and Inter Milan - they'll already be highlights in the group stage. Two super clubs, two super stadiums. I'm looking forward to this group. It's also nice that we'll celebrate a reunion with Robert Lewandowski so soon. Clearly, our goal is to reach the knockout stage, although we must not underestimate the team from Pilsen."
„For me, a super group with super teams. There will be some terrific Champions League nights for the football fans.”
Thomas Müller
Thomas Müller: "What a terrific story that we're going to meet Barcelona with Robert Lewandowski. For me, a super group with super teams. There will be some terrific Champions League nights for the football fans. But one thing is also clear: we'll have to do our homework to reach the round of 16."
Watch the draw again and catch Hasan Salihamidžić's reaction as it happened:
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