MUNICH — Bayern Munich are by self-definition Germany’s best football club, which is supported by the Bundesliga and European record books and manifested as well by their immense wealth.
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But Munich’s confident “mia san mia” (roughly translated as “we are who we are”) motto will receive a serious dent if they fail to lift the Champions League trophy after the first all-German final against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday at Wembley.
The record-breaking run to the Bundesliga title and a German cup win on June 1 would mean next to nothing if Bayern fall against Dortmund, who beat them for the 2011 and 2012 league titles and clobbered them 5-2 in the German cup final 12 months ago.
Bayern rather aim to come third time lucky after losing the 2010 and 2012 Champions League finals against Inter Milan and Chelsea, respectively, the latter in their home stadium on penalties.
Germany midfielder Thomas Mueller said that “if you lose it three times, you’re marked as a loser, and I don’t want that,” but overall Munich can be highly confident as they seek the first triple in club history.
Outgoing coach Jupp Heynckes, who won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 1998, said that the trauma of the lost 2012 final has only made Munich stronger. “Mentally, we’re unbelievably stable. Nothing can throw us out of our stride. We have only one target, to win the big cup! Nothing can knock us off course,” the 68-year-old said.
“My team is incredibly focused on success and programmed for it, to an extent I’ve never experienced in my career as a player and coach. Obviously, after the huge disappointment on our own ground, picking ourselves up and playing a season like this proves my players are special and made of the right stuff.”
