Prior to Bayern’s opening Champions League match against Chelsea, club legend Claudio Pizarro recalls his season with the Londoners, looks at the current team’s strengths and reveals the most important lesson he learned in football.
The team bus was making its way down the motorway, the atmosphere relaxed. Cards could be heard being slapped on tables. Pizarro was sitting with some teammates when his mobile suddenly rang. He didn’t know the number, but he immediately recognised the voice on the line. It was José Mourinho.
“I quickly fled into the little kitchen to take the call,” Pizarro recalls in our new exclusive website series LEGACY – The Voice of Legends. The coach wanted to sign him, and the Peruvian quickly made the decision to move to Chelsea.
But the dream of a successful partnership, which began with such conviction in 2007, faded within a few months. However, Pizza claims he learned his most important lesson in football while at Stamford Bridge. He found the key to success.
Chelsea: Global stars, but no happy ending
Prior to the first game of the Champions League’s league phase at the Allianz Arena against Chelsea on Wednesday, Pizarro takes a look back on his time in blue, assesses Bayern’s chances and also offers a message to Vincent Kompany’s team.
When Pizarro arrived in London, he knew he was joining a changing room filled with world-class talent. Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, John Terry – names associated with winning. “In terms of individuals, it was the team with the best quality I ever played in,” he said. The first few weeks in particular have stuck with him. “John Terry came up to me as captain and said, ‘If you ever need anything, come to me’. They were all top guys.”
However, there was tension between Mourinho and the club’s bosses, meaning the coach left after a bad start to the season. Avram Grant took over but didn’t really fancy Pizarro. The Peruvian striker scored just two goals across 21 league appearances. Chelsea finished the season second in the Premier League but also reached the finals of the League Cup and Champions League. The campaign hadn’t been ideal. The talent was there, but something was lacking.
„I can sense the huger in the team. The guys know Bayern belong in Europe’s top five. If the defence can remain solid and the key players stay fit, this team can go far.”
Claudio Pizarro
Looking back now, Pizarro can explain what that was. Despite all the individuals, they were missing that final sense of togetherness. “I learned there that when a team doesn’t play together, you won’t achieve anything.”
Back to Munich and treble glory
Pizarro returned to Bayern in 2012 via a spell back at Werder Bremen now with a greater understanding. “2012/13 was the best team I ever played in. Everything was right. Everyone knew what he had to do. And that’s why we won it all,” said the treble winner, for whom victory at Wembley was the highlight of his career. “It was the opposite of Chelsea. Everything was a unit in Munich – the players, the coach, the fans. That was the difference.”
Bayern’s attack in focus
Pizarro believes the current Bayern team are looking good. “Bayern worked very well in the summer. The new players will help to achieve their goals,” he stated. Luis Díaz, for example, has already added a few goals, with Pizarro believing his fellow South American is “doing his things very well”. Nicolas Jackson will also offer greater options in attack, which Pizarro sees as “hugely important”, while adding of the whole squad: “I can sense the huger in the team. The guys know Bayern belong in Europe’s top five. If the defence can remain solid and the key players stay fit, this team can go far.”
Chelsea’s 2025
Even with another summer of big changes in the squad, Chelsea come to Bavaria with plenty of momentum behind them. Just some of the big-name signings include Joao Pedro from Brighton and Hove Albion, Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United and Jorrel Hato from Ajax. The Blues spent over €300 million in the recent transfer window.
They’ve got off to a solid enough start, winning two and drawing two of their opening four Premier League fixtures. Coach Enzo Maresca likes his team to have possession and press aggressively. Cole Palmer is their key man, being able to score, set up and be involved in almost every attack. Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo are the engine room in midfield. “The coach is doing a good job. He’s found his philosophy and already won titles,” Pizarro analysed. Chelsea won the Conference League last season and the Club World Cup in July.
Even with that confidence, the Blues are susceptible and have conceded some late goals, like at the weekend to draw 2-2 with Brentford. Their defence isn’t yet watertight for 90 minutes, which means Bayern have to keep up the pressure for the whole game.
“It’s now down to the guys to keep playing as a strong unit. Then anything’s possible,” Pizarro insisted. Let’s hope he’s right and the boys can kick off the league phase with three points.
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