As of: March 15, 2024, 4:14 p.m
By: Philipp Kessler, Manuel Bonke
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FC Bayern Munich around leading player Thomas Müller (M.) is in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
FC Bayern will face Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Not an easy task.
As Gunners legend Gilberto Silva also emphasizes.
Munich - Thomas Müller (34) was wrong with his tip.
The Bayern star looked forward to the draw for the quarter-finals in the Champions League on Friday.
“I think we’ll get Real Madrid,” the attacker speculated in his video on Instagram.
A short time later, Bayern had certainty.
“And it’s Arsenal,” Müller grinned into the camera and greeted his German national team colleague Kai Havertz (24) on duty for the Londoners: “My friend, I’m waiting for you.
A nice lot.
Two very good teams, two very good stadiums, two very good cities.
It will be hard, but I will always be positive.
See you, Gunners.”
The first leg will take place in London (9/10 April), the second leg (16/17 April) a week later in Munich.
Müller is looking forward to the duels.
The initial reactions from the English media, however, were less positive.
A “nightmare”, even a “horror” for Arsenal FC is the reunion with FC Bayern.
The Londoners have met the German record champions four times so far in the round of 16 of the premier class.
They were always eliminated.
The last time was in 2017, when Munich won 5-1.
“These are no longer the Gunners, against whom we were able to clearly win the last three games,” warns board boss Jan-Christian Dreesen (56) about the current Premier League leaders.
Sports director Max Eberl (50) agrees: “They have developed over the last few years.
Now they have a balanced team with incredible speed on offense.
And they play very attractive football.”
Arsenal's Kai Havertz in a duel with Francisco Conceicao (r) from FC Porto.
© Luis Vieira/AP/dpa
Coach Mikel Arteta (41), a student of Pep Guardiola (53/currently Manchester City), has managed to form Arsenal into a top team again around captain Martin Odegaard (25) and offensive star Bukayo Saka (22).
Legend Gilberto Silva praises Arsenal
One person who experienced Arsenal's former glory days is Gilberto Silva (47).
As a defensive midfielder, the Brazilian was involved in the last championship win in 2004.
In 2006, Silva and the Gunners reached the Champions League final, but lost to FC Barcelona (1-2).
The Londoners are set to go far this year too.
“Arsenal is in a good mood at the moment,” says Silva to tz.
“I’m sure we’ll see two good games.” There’s a lot of respect for Bayern.
Silva: “Arsenal knows Bayern’s history in the Champions League, the quality of their players and the history of their club.
There will be tough games – for both teams.”
Speaking of which: the winner of the duel between defending champions Manchester City and Real Madrid awaits in the semifinals.
“We certainly have the most difficult path ahead of us that you can imagine,” panted Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel (50).
Munich's big goal: a return to London for the final on June 1st.
Philipp Kessler, Manuel Bonke