Bayern Munich has won its past 12 games, yet coach Louis van Gaal
and some of his players are not entirely happy going into the
round-of-16 match in the Champions League against struggling
Fiorentina.
Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 at the weekend to be only
one goal behind Bundesliga leader Bayer Leverkusen in the
Bundesliga standings but the team's was left badly exposed several
times in the match.
"We need a bit more order in our game," Van Gaal said ahead
of Wednesday's first leg. "We don't want to play defensively, but
we can't afford the kind of mistakes we made in the last match.
"It's important not to concede a goal at home."
Bayern goalkeeper Joerg Butt added: "We are using our chances
up front but at the back we allow too much."
The 35-year-old Butt's performances have earned him a
one-year contract extension for next season.
"We can't always rely on Joerg," striker Mario Gomez said.
Defender Philipp Lahm agreed.
"We are giving up too many chances in the back, in the
Champions League you get punished for that," Lahm said.
Bayern's defense may be sloppy, but Arjen Robben and Franck
Ribery appear able to break down any defense with their runs down
the flanks.
"They are both world class," Gomez said of the wingers.
Van Gaal thinks both stars could do more to help at the back.
"It's getting better, they are beginning to do some defensive
jobs too," Van Gaal said.
Miroslav Klose will be back after missing the past two games
with an ankle injury but the Germany striker is unlikely to be in
Bayern's starting lineup.
Fiorentina has lost four of its past five games, falling to
11th in the Serie A, and coach Cesare Prandelli will be without
Alessandro Gamberini after the central defender dislocated his
shoulder in the 2-0 loss at Sampdoria at the weekend.
Fiorentina's last trip to Munich in 2008 ended in a 3-0 loss
in the group stage of the Champions League, but Bayern chairman
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge warned his players not to be complacent.
"If we don't underestimate Fiorentina and don't let us be
fooled by their current position in the standings, we can advance,"
he said. "We could have a rude awakening if we think that it will
be a piece of cake."
