Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer emphasized on Monday that the team is fully focused on the upcoming Champions League season, with this year's final set to take place at their home ground, the Allianz Arena. Speaking ahead of Bayern's opening match against Dinamo Zagreb, Neuer said, "Something big is coming. The most important thing is the final in Munich. We want to be there, and everything else is secondary."
Neuer highlighted the significance of the final for the city, fans, and players, saying their motivation is incredibly high. Bayern, who have won the European title six times, are entering this season after a disappointing year where they failed to win any silverware for the first time in 11 seasons. Bayer Leverkusen, led by Xabi Alonso, claimed the league and cup double last season.
In the previous Champions League campaign, Bayern were knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual champions Real Madrid, who went on to defeat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley in the final.
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Neuer and fellow veteran Thomas Müller, both of whom lifted the Champions League trophy in 2013 and 2020, are the only current squad members who played in the 2012 home final, which Bayern lost to Chelsea on penalties. On social media, Müller expressed his excitement, saying, "The road to Munich starts tomorrow. I'm very excited. Let's enjoy the best football in Europe."
Manager Vincent Kompany, preparing for his debut Champions League match as head coach, encouraged fans to dream big but emphasized the importance of performing well on the pitch. "We have a tough match tomorrow, and the key is to play well and win."
Bayern have a strong record in their Champions League openers, having won every one of them since 2002, when they suffered a 3-2 defeat to Deportivo La Coruna, which led to their only group stage elimination to date.
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