Munich eyes Mourinho showdown

Munich eyes Mourinho showdown

Published Apr. 27, 2010 11:58 p.m. ET

Bayern manager Louis van Gaal, who has managed Barcelona on two separate occasions in the past, wants to cross swords with Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan in the final.

The Bundesliga club swept aside 10-man Lyon 3-0 to progress to the final 4-0 on aggregate.

They will meet either Inter Milan or defending champions Barcelona with Mourinho's team heading to the Nou Camp defending a 3-1 first-leg advantage.

He told Welt Online: "It's great that we are in the final. We have achieved so much in the last few games.

"Bayern can beat any team, that's why we are here. I hope that Jose Mourinho reaches the final, but I have a commitment to Barcelona."

Bayern president Uli Hoeness said: "It was almost perfection in football. This is what I got from Bayern Munich in an important Champions League game. The way we played was unbelievable."


Three-goal hero Olic did not want to take all the praise and instead hailed Bayern's team effort after they swept aside Lyon, who had Cris sent off in the second half in France.

"Three goals in a game like this is outstanding," he said. "We've all played well together and I scored all three goals."

Bayern Munich striker Arjen Robben also hopes to meet former manager Mourinho in the Champions League final after helping his team book their place at the Bernabeu.

"I want to play Inter, definitely." he told Sky Sports 2. "It's better for us as a team.

"We can have difficulties against Barca.

"But It's also because I want to play against Mourinho and (Wesley) Sneijder."

It was an Ivica Olic hat-trick that ensured Bayern Munich progressed to their first Champions League final since 2001.

And Robben reserved special praise for the Croatia striker who took his tally to seven goals in nine European appearances this season.

"He's great, just unbelievable," added Robben. "He gives more than 100% every game.

"He just keeps running, so energetic.

"He's a great player and so important for us."

The outcome was rarely in doubt as Bayern dominated from start to finish.

And Robben confirmed it was as comfortable as it looked.

He said: "Yes, it was comfortable, it also felt so on the pitch.

"We were much the better team. We played a great game.

"We didn't sit back and wait for them to come. We played aggressively, with attacking football and didn't let them come into the game.

"We played well.

"I'm very proud. Very proud of the team and happy to reach the final.

"It's a great season."

Lyon never really looked like scoring but their slim hopes of reaching the final all but evaporated when Cris was harshly dismissed on the hour mark.

With the score on the night still 1-0, Cris was booked for a challenge and was then shown a second yellow for ironically applauding the referee.

To add insult to injury replays showed that the Lyon captain's challenge was a fair one.

However, coach Claude Puel refused to use the red card as an excuse, admitting Bayern simply outplayed his team.

"We have to realise that they were stronger," he told TF1.

"It's a shame we didn't equalise, we had opportunities in front of goal which would have put us back in the match.

"It was more difficult after Cris' sending off, we had already worked a lot physically.

"The score is heavy compared to what the players put in. There's not really much to reproach them for.

"It leaves the feeling of emptiness."

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