Van Gaal wary of Juve

Posted Wednesday, September 30, 2009 by PA

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal is not looking forward to the Champions League game against Juventus, opponents of which he has particularly bad memories.

"When I was coach at Ajax, we lost the Champions League final to them on a penalty shoot-out," recalled the Bayern coach.

That was 1996 and now, 13 years later, Van Gaal is looking to make up not only for that defeat, but also for his side's 1-0 reverse at Hamburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

That result - their second defeat of the season - saw Bayern drop to seventh in the league table, but Van Gaal is pleased his side does not have to wait too long to put the record straight, even if he could have imagined easier opponents than Juve.

"We had won five games in a row and had self-confidence and thought that we would now be level on points with Hamburg," explained the Dutch coach on the club's website.

"Now we are six points behind, but life goes on and fortunately we are playing Juventus on Wednesday already and we can win again there.

"They are a good team and are in good form, even though they only drew at the weekend. They are near the top of their table and are one of the top teams in Europe.

Bayern began their Champions League campaign in emphatic fashion with a 3-0 win at Maccabi Haifa a fortnight ago and a further victory at the Allianz Arena would put them in a commanding position and enable Van Gaal and his team to enjoy a night at the city's beer festival.

"I have my lederhosen ready and I am a party animal so I am really looking forward to the visit," admitted Van Gaal.

Bayern goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt will be fit to play, even if he looks like he has been in the wars after picking up a black eye after a training ground accident.

He should keep his place in what could be an unchanged side, unless Van Gaal decides to give Thomas Muller another start after he scored two in the first group game.

Mario Gomez, Ivica Olic and Miroslav Klose are the other options for a place in the attack alongside Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

Juve midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic has been ruled out of the trip due to an injury which has ruled him out of what would have been his first game against his former club, who he left in 2007 to join the Old Lady.

"My heart bleeds," he admitted. "I am hugely disappointed, but there is nothing I can do about it."

"Munich is my old love. It was always enjoyable playing in front of these fans.

"I am so sorry not to be able to play in front of a crowd which always supported me."