Kuffour: Bayern must win final to eclipse my 2001 winners
Samuel Kuffour feels Bayern must beat Dortmund to match the 2001 side
The Ghanaian tells Goal that Jupp
Heynckes' side can only be classed as a truly great side if they can
bounce back from two showpiece defeats in three seasons
Samuel Kuffour can relate to the situation
Bayern Munich find themselves in this weekend. In 1999 he unwittingly became the symbol of the Bavarians' agonising, last-minute defeat to
Manchester United in the Champions League final.
"Everybody
couldn't believe what had just happened. It was a very, very sad
moment," he says of the atmosphere in the dressing room after the clash
at Camp Nou.
Last season, of course, a late set-piece goal
helped Chelsea snatch the trophy from Bayern’s grasp just as Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer’s had done 13 years previous. For Kuffour, though, the story
ended in triumph as Bayern returned to lift the trophy in 2001, so the
former defender is well placed to offer insight into the emotions
affecting Jupp Heynckes’ side ahead of their clash with Borussia
Dortmund on Saturday.
Goal spoke exclusively to the popular Ghanaian earlier this week.
BAYERN'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALS |
1999 - HEARTBREAK VS MAN UNITED |
|
One of the most
iconic European finals in recent memory, Manchester United's two
stoppage-time goals turned around what was looking to be a simple 1-0
victory to the Germans. |
2001 - VICTORY OVER VALENCIA |
|
Two years later,
it was Bayern's turn to break hearts as they beat Valencia after
extra-time, with the scores locked at 1-1, on penalties. An excellent
bounce back from Bayern, whose squad still had the spine from the 1999
defeat. |
2010 - DEFEAT TO INTER |
|
Jose Mourinho's
Inter romped to a 2-0 victory to condemn Bayern to another Champions
League final defeat three years ago. Two goals from Diego Milito secured
the win for the Italian giants at the Santiago Bernabeu. |
2012 - CONQUERED BY CHELSEA |
|
Their most recent
European final defeat and still the most sore - defeat on home turf at
the Allianz Arena was a shock result, especially considering Bayern had
created far more chances than the Blues. But profligacy cost the
Bavarians, who were ultimately beaten on penalties. |
One of the defining images of the 1999 final was you
banging the turf in frustration after Bayern had lost in such dramatic
circumstances. What are your memories of that day?"I have never been able to bring myself to watch the game.
"When
we played against Manchester United they had Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole
and if you kept them quiet that was the end of Manchester United. We
did that and had more possession and more opportunities than Manchester
United, but it was their day and that's why they won. They had luck on
their side.
"Lothar Matthaus came to my room a night before the
final and said to me if we handle Cole and Yorke then we have won this
game. But they took him off in the 80th minute. People were asking why
Matthaus went out in the 80th minute but that was our plan. He was
getting old at that time. He was 38. So we brought in Thorsten Fink to
come on and hold the midfield.
"And things didn't go as planned.
But personally, for me, if I were Matthaus I would have played that game
until the last drop of my blood was spent because it was a Champions
League final and everyone wants to get the glory. Him staying on the
field would have changed our game."
What psychological effect could losing last season’s final have on the current Bayern team going into this match?"All
the players needed against Chelsea was character to win that final. It
is virtually the same squad that played last season. Losing the
Champions League final on home soil is a painful thing and it is now
time for them to talk to each other and believe they can win.
"Everybody
can see now is their time. I was in Munich when they won the Bundesliga
a few weeks ago together with so many former players and I think that
was the inspiration the players need now. We have been talking to them.
"Everybody
can see now is their time. When you look at the balance of the team
they are stronger than any club in Europe. The whole team is solid with
[Franck] Ribery and [Arjen] Robben on fire. What they have to do is not
to underrate Dortmund as anything can happen in a final. But I tip
Bayern to beat Dortmund by two goals."
Bayern team conceded a last-minute set-piece to Chelsea in the final last year - is this a weak spot for Dortmund to exploit?"I
think the concentration needs to be higher from the Bayern defenders.
But I spoke to Jerome Boateng and he is very confident to play against
[Robert] Lewandowski and now they have Dante from Brazil who has been
solid this season.
"I also really love to see [David] Alaba
playing. Last season he missed the final and I think it will be a huge
opportunity for him to play - he has great potential."
You won the final through a penalty shoot-out in 2001 against Valencia - what does it take to triumph on spot kicks?"The coach came to me before the penalties and asked me if I want to kick the first penalty among the five and I said no.
"I
remember me and Bixente Lizarazu ran away and told the coach: "Let the
Germans kick. Afterwards we will see what happens. Let them take the
penalties and I will pray behind them."
"I'm very good at penalty
taking but in this shoot-out I was hiding away from taking one.
Especially in the final, against Valencia, anything can happen.
"Taking penalties is all about concentration. You spot one place
and kick it hard. As a player you can’t have a second thought; just
shoot at your target."
There is a culture of success at
Bayern. How badly do the defeats in European finals hurt the club,
especially last season on home soil?"It's been a hard
time for the fans who love the club so much. Just before we came on the
field to face Valencia in 2001, [Bayern veteran Stefan] Effenberg told
us to go out there and fight for the people of Bavaria. Losing in four
finals in '87, '99, 2010 and 2012 hasn't been easy. This time they have
to win, whatever it takes, because they can't look back again and keep
losing finals. If they win everyone will say they deserved to win
because they have beaten Barcelona 7-0 and beaten Juventus 4-0."
What are the expectations on this Bayern team now?"The
whole season has been amazing. There is a positive feeling in that camp
and I give credit to Jupp Heynckes who has done an extraordinary job
with this squad and taken German football to the next level.
"Winning
the league 25 points ahead of Dortmund is a record in the Bundesliga.
In our time it was 15 points. They now have the cup final to play plus
this Champions League so it shows how the team has been reorganised
after the shock defeat against Chelsea
"I believe that dominating
continental football is a realistic dream with Pep Guardiola coming in.
He is one of the best coaches in the world. I think Guardiola is going
to do the same with Bayern [as he did at Barca] and we will see the
improvement.
"Bayern have also bought Mario Gotze and it is
likely they could land Lewandowski. They are going to be at the top for a
very long time. Bayern are going to win the league next season and
possibly get to the final of Champions League again."
How can they prove they are better than the team of 2001?"For
now they are not better than the 2001 squad. They have to win the
Champions League first. The Champions League is the ultimate in European
football and the 2001 team won it. During our run we beat Barcelona 2-1
so, as they beat them 7-0, it is a great achievement but they have to
get their hands on the trophy before we can start talking about them
being better than us.
"The 2001 squad won the Bundesliga and
Champions League making it a double, so if they win Champions League and
DFB-Pokal to add to their league title then that will make them treble
winners. I can say after that they are better than us."