The Champions League’s new format has introduced more games, putting further strain on the players of clubs who participate in it. In the case of Bayern Munich, they drew the short straw (or rather shot themselves in the foot) because they had slinked down to the playoffs zone of the league phase instead of automatic qualification to the Round of 16.
When asked about the hectic run of games, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany doesn’t seem to mind. “I’m not someone who gets scared,” Kompany said (as captured by Twitter account @iMiaSanMia). “I want to tackle the challenges. The fans will also be looking forward to these games. We’re always happy if we can play football.”
Players may be on the fence about playing more games, but the Bavarians’ elimination from the DFB-Pokal might actually come in handy when it comes to load management. Considering that Feyenoord have now regressed into relegation quality football after claiming a win over Bayern—including a 6-1 loss to Lille where they scored three own goals, Celtic FC should not be sniffed at.
