Hansi Flick was in a relaxed mood ahead of Bayern’s trip to the capital on Friday night, and why shouldn’t he be? The club are seven points clear at the top of the table and next up get a bit of warm weather in Qatar as they play the Club World Championships.
It seems a world away when Bayern committed the almost unforgivable sin of losing two games in a row – against Gladbach in the league then against Bundesliga 2 side Holstein Kiel to knock the defending champions out the German Cup and end Bayern’s chances of defending the treble.
That brief period has proven to be a mere blip with Bayern winning four games on the trot since, opening up a seven point gap on second placed RB Leipzig.
“We want to win against Berlin to send a signal to the league that we are back on track and that is our goal.”
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After Friday Bayern don’t play again in the league until the 15th as they travel to Qatar to compete in the Club World Championships.
Bayern’s first game in the Club Worlds is on Monday with the final on Thursday as The Reds look to lift the sixth trophy of the season.
The last time a team from Europe won six trophies in a single campaign was the great Barcelona side of 2009.
Distant observers see the Club World Championships as a training exercise with some of the quality on offer, but Hansi wasn’t taking the trip lightly saying it will be difficult to win.
On the Club World Championships, Hansi said: “Qatar is going to put some extra strain on us. We do not have time to train only time to regenerate and play the games.
“We want to win the title for the club and so we win 6 titles in one year. That will be another part of history our team can write and that is our goal but we know it is a difficult challenge.”
In Bundesliga, Bayern haven’t had it all their own way against Berlin winning one of the last five encounters, drawing the other four.
On the trip to the capital Flick said: “We want to win against Berlin to send a signal to the league that we are back on track and that is our goal.”
Flick reserved special praise for Sami Khedira who he worked with during Germany’s 2014 World Cup win.
Khedira is Berlin’s headline signing in the January window having previously played for Real Madrid and Juventus.
On Khedira, Flick said: “Sami did not play a lot recently but he is an absolute professional who can lead the team.”
Bayern will be without Tanguy Nianzou and keeper Alexander Nübel both injured. Corentin Tolisso is suspended while Javi Martinez and Leon Goretzka are both out having tested positive for covid at the end of January.
Flick did not confirm when they will be back but did say that Goretzka’s isolation period is expected to end Friday midnight provided the midfielder produces a negative covid test.
Flick was coy on the future of Niklas Sule saying he was happy to have the defender, who came under heavy criticism during Bayern’s blip at the beginning of January. Flick was almost overly relaxed about Sule’s future considering the defender’s contract ends next season.
“I am really happy he is in our team. He has a contract for this season and next and we will see how this evolves.” Would Flick be so calm if it was Lewandowski’s future in question?
Finally Flick was asked whether Bundesliga should only permit fans who have been vaccinated as is being done by a ticket company for people wanting to attend rock concerts in Germany. Flick refused to answer the question but did confirm he would be getting vaccinated when the time comes.
“I do not want to comment and read in the news that Hansi wants everyone to be vaccinated. Personally I sit here and say I am going to be vaccinated as soon as I can. When it is my turn I will definitely got vaccinated.”
Good to hear.
Hertha Berlin vs Bayern Munich, Bundesliga Matchday 20, Friday, Kick-off 7:30pm GMT.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 