Low: Bayern defeat would hit Germany morale
Reuters - Tuesday 15 May 2012, 10:58
Defeat for Bayern Munich against
Chelsea in Saturday's Champions League final would hit German
confidence ahead of Euro 2012 next month, national team coach
Joachim Low said on Tuesday.
Bayern, who lost to Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup
final last week, are eyeing their fifth European crown when they
take on Chelsea in Munich. Eight of Bayern's squad will then
join the national team, preparing in Italy, on May 25.
"If they lose again in a final, after their league and
German Cup losses, in their own stadium... then disappointment
would be great which I think would mean I would need to give
them [Bayern players] two or three more days to process that,"
said Low.
"They would then need a bit longer to find their motivation
but they would find it. Because the Euros are also a huge
target. But a defeat would be, I think, a bit of a low blow for
us," he told the German football association in an interview.
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, defenders Holger Badstuber,
suspended for the final, Jerome Boateng and Philipp Lahm as well
as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos and Mario
Gomez have been called up for the tournament co-hosted by Poland
and Ukraine.
"To win the Champions League title would be important, it
would be an historic achievement," Low said.
"That would be super for our players because they would join
us fully motivated and would find their rhythm immediately
because of that motivation."
Three-time European champions Germany, looking for their
first title since 1996, have started preparations in Sardinia
this week with less than half of the players called up.
The players from doubles winners Borussia Dortmund are
arriving later on Tuesday following their 5-2 German Cup win
over Bayern on Saturday, while Real Madrid's Sami Khedira and
Mesut Ozil will join them in a few days.
"The preparation start is a bit unsettled. A training
session on tactics is a bit difficult at the moment," said Low,
who will be in charge for his third tournament after leading
Germany to a runners-up spot at Euro 2008 and third place at the
2010 World Cup.
"It is not easy, so we will have to see how we can do it. We
are flexible, we will make it but time is very tight."
Germany take on Portugal, Denmark and Netherlands in Group B
of the tournament which kicks off on June 8.