Heynckes postpones Ribery’s birthday bash (video)
Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes was keen to warn his side against complacency ahead of the Champions League quarter final second leg against Juventus after the Bavarians secured the Bundesliga title at the weekend.
The Bayern team had planned to celebrate their title victory by throwing a surprise birthday party for 30 year old French winger Frank Ribery on Sunday evening. Bayern became the fastest team to win the Bundesliga in the competition’s 50 year history at the weekend however in spite of Bayern’s achievement boss Jupp Heynckes opted to postpone the title festivities until after the Champions League trip to Italy.
Bayern head to Turin with a 2-0 first leg advantage over Juventus and appear to be odds on favourites to proceed to the semi-finals after a limp Juve performance in Germany last week. However, with progression to the next round all but certain for Bayern, Heycknes – who is hoping to secure the treble before his retirement this summer – was quick to stamp his authority on the team by reminding his players that their quarter final tie with Juventus is far from over.
Heynckes commented “Postponing any celebrations also characterizes a champion. It’s a pleasure, but we cannot afford to get ahead of ourselves.”
The Bayern head coach then went on to have a perhaps inadvertent pop at their Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund and their Champions League success of 1997 by saying “Juventus won the Serie A title in 1997 and then celebrated their success. Borussia Dortmund would not have won the Champions League otherwise.”
Bayern Munich supporters will be hoping that Jupp Heynckes comments and intervention will be a swift and important reminder to the Bayern Munich players that in spite of the Bundesliga success, there is still plenty to play for this season.
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