Bayern Munich attacker Thomas Muller has said he is in “fighting mode” for the six-time European champions’ trip to Arsenal in the Uefa Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Thomas Tuchel’s side suffered a humiliating second consecutive defeat on Saturday, spurning a 2-0 half-time lead to lose 3-2 at midtable Heidenheim, who are in their first season in the top flight and only played in the second tier for the first time in 2013/14.
“Everyone involved realises that we’re not in the best period in the club’s history,” said Muller, who is Bayern’s third-top scorer of all time and has reached the Champions League final four times with the club, winning it twice.
“The way we defended certainly wasn’t great. With my many years of experience, I’m already in fighting mode for Tuesday.
“It’s no good us picking on each other. But the resentment in me is almost looking forward to Tuesday. We’ll give it our all.”
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With unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen 16 points clear of them with six matches remaining, Bayern are level on points with third-placed Stuttgart, who they visit in their penultimate away game on May 4.
A 2-0 home to defeat to Borussia Dortmund on March 30 continued their faltering league form in their final season under manager Thomas Tuchel, but the experience of players such as Muller could make the difference when they face a relatively rookie Arsenal side at this stage of the competition.
Full time. pic.twitter.com/LGXyUTrIZC
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) April 6, 2024
Bayern need ‘energy’ for Arsenal
There have been no such problems for the Gunners ahead of their latest meeting with Bayern striker Harry Kane, who regularly troubled them during his time at former club Tottenham.
Arsenal outclassed Brighton & Hove Albion in a 3-0 away win on Saturday to move a point above Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
Their only defeat in their last 13 matches was a 1-0 defeat at Porto in their Champions League round of 16 first leg.
“We’ve now lost two games in a week,” rued Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund. “It’s bitter and really disappointing.
“But we now have to build our energy up again for Tuesday. We all know that we can do things differently – and we must.”
