Bundesliga
Gnabry: "We are Bayern - everything is possible.”
Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry understands why some people see Liverpool as favourites for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League tie – but has backed the German champions to spring a surprise.
Gnabry, 23, has been in good form this month, scoring a brace against Hertha Berlin in the DFB Cup and also netting in the 3-1 league win over Schalke.
The former Arsenal player is relishing a return to England, and thinks Bayern have what it takes to cause Liverpool problems at Anfield on Tuesday.
“I do not think the public is wrong,” he told Goal. “Liverpool is playing a very strong season – you cannot deny that.
“That’s OK. But that does not mean that we go into the game and say ‘there is nothing to get.’ On the contrary, we have our strengths. We are Bayern. Everything is possible.”
Gnabry has warned that Liverpool front trio Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and former Hoffenheim forward Roberto Firmino could “mercilessly” exploit any Bayern mistakes, a point also highlighted by full-back David Alaba.
“We have to be more compact defensively and more aggressive,” the Austrian left-back told German football magazine kicker.
Along with striker Robert Lewandowski, defender Mats Hummels has a good insight into what Bayern can expect at Anfield – as well as what they must do to get a positive result.
Before joining Bayern, prolific Pole Lewandowski and Germany international Hummels won two Bundesliga titles and the DFB Cup as part of a swashbuckling Borussia Dortmund side who were then managed by current Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp.
The 30-year-old told local paper tz that Bayern must not be intimidated by the atmosphere or the high-energy opponents they will face on Merseyside.
“What’s very important is not to capitulate in the face of pressing from the opposition,” said Hummels, who was also a Champions League runner-up with Klopp’s Dortmund – against Bayern – in 2013.
“Not to play the ball back and forth – you have to have the courage to play the ball forward. That’s even our job from the back, that we play through the first pressing line - because that’s how you can hurt a team that’s extremely aggressive in their pressing.
"That’s the first step towards having a good game.”