Lisbon (AP) - Manuel Neuer, as captain, sees the Bayern Munich team ready for the task against Olympique Lyon and the envisaged entry into the Champions League final.
"I think that we competitive types are all really hungry and are mentally so fit at the moment that we are just there, also from the head," said the national soccer goalkeeper in a video of the German record champions. "We have full focus in the game. I think we're just in a good mood," said the 34-year-old before the semi-finals on Wednesday (9:00 pm) at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon.
The terrific 8-2 in the quarter-finals against FC Barcelona made Bayern even more confident with a view to the triple plan at the final tournament in Portugal. "It's amazing what happened here and what we experienced," said Neuer. But it goes on straight away: "You have the next tasks, you have the semi-finals in front of your chest." The tournament mode, with one game each in the quarter and semi-finals, is similar to that of an EM or World Cup, noted the 2014 world champion: "It's always great or top, always a final."
The favorites have respect for Lyon after the French were able to eliminate Juventus Turin with Cristiano Ronaldo and now in Lisbon Manchester City with star coach Pep Guardiola in the knockout phase. Lyon have "punished City brutally," said Neuer, who described Bayern's route as follows: "It will be important that we have a top residual defense, that we are always wide awake, that we do not take anything lightly and simply stand well and are flexible in the front row. "
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