PBA DESK : Niko Kovac wants his Bayern Munich side to show the same defensive discipline that saw them shut out Liverpool in the Bundesliga title race as they set their sights on stuttering leaders Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern conceded sloppy goals — including a Bundesliga record fastest own goal after just 13 seconds — in last Friday’s 3-2 win at Augsburg, which put the reigning champions three points behind Dortmund thanks to them drawing 0- 0 at Nuremberg on Monday night.
Kovac’s team followed that up with a far more disciplined goalless draw at Anfield that has put them in a decent position against Liverpool ahead of the deciding leg of their last-16 Champions League tie at the Allianz Arena on March 12.
“I expect the same concentration and absolute discipline in defence,” he said on Thursday ahead of their home league clash with Hertha Berlin Saturday.
Hertha beat second-placed Bayern in the capital 2-0 in September, the first of the four defeats this season.
“The Bundesliga is important, but a few players rate the Champions League higher and put more into it,” he added. A win in Munich would put Bayern level on points with Dortmund for at least 24 hours before Dortmund play on Sunday at home to Bayer Leverkusen — who have surged up to fifth under new coach Peter Bosz — while a seven-goal swing in Bayern’s favour over both fixtures could put the Bavarians top on goal difference.
Croat Kovac wants to make it “hard to score goals against Bayern Munich — it’s all in the mind” after too many loose defensive displays.
Centre-back Mats Hummels is doubtful to face Hertha with a cold and set to be replaced by Jerome Boateng, who missed the draw at Liverpool with an upset stomach.
Midfielder Leon Goretzka could also return after shaking off an Achilles tendon knock.
PBA/zizi
