Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has issued a plea ahead of Saturday's Champions League final against Chelsea: No more penalties please.
Bayern won a penalty shootout to eliminate Real Madrid in the semifinals and did the same in the German Cup semis against Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Heynckes joked on Friday that a third shootout would be too much to suffer through at age 67, although German sides traditionally have a good record against English opposition when it comes to spot kicks.
''I hope we can avoid another shootout. I am an old guy, I am not sure my heart would be able to stand it,'' Heynckes said, half-jokingly, half-seriously.
Looking back in history, Heynckes would seem to have little to worry about. Bayern has been involved in four penalty shootouts in European competitions and won all of them.
The last time it won the Champions League, in 2001, it beat Valencia 5-4 on penalties.
In this season's semifinal against Real, in the second leg in Madrid, Bayern won the shootout 3-1 as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer stopped attempts from Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.
Chelsea, on the other hand, has lost both of its shootouts in the Champions League: In 2008 in the final against Manchester United, and in the 2007 semifinal against Liverpool.
Germany also beat England on penalties in the semifinals of the 1990 World Cup and in the semifinals of the 1996 European Championship - in England.
Heynckes explained what it takes to win penalty shootouts.
''It has to do with mental strength, an absolute desire to win and the ability to concentrate on every detail until the end. German teams never give up,'' he said.
Heynckes said it made little sense to practice penalties because there was a huge difference between taking a decisive shot in front of a hostile crowd in an away match and finding the net in training.
''But sometimes,'' he said, ''you can see in training who is predestined to shoot penalties well.''
