Hannover vs Bayern Munich preview - Guardiola fully focused on Hannover

Posted Friday, March 06, 2015 by PA

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is not getting ahead of himself heading into an important week for the Bundesliga leaders.

Guardiola's side travel to Hannover on Saturday hoping to maintain or extend their eight-point advantage at the top of the standings, before hosting Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The midweek game is arguably more important, with Bayern having been held 0-0 in Ukraine and the outcome of the tie still wide open, but Guardiola is not going to neglect Saturday's trip to Lower Saxony.

"The players can have a rest in two months' time when the season is over," the Catalan said at a press conference. "Anybody who is passionate enough is not tired.

"The way Hannover and Donetsk defend is completely different so our attacking play will also be totally different for both games, which is why I need to think of the Bundesliga first.

"There are still 33 points up for grabs and our most important game is (Saturday) against Hannover.

"Wolfsburg are showing us that they are there so I've got to field what is my strongest team."

That is likely to included Franck Ribery, who Guardiola has warned about his conduct after a rush of blood to the head in the DFB-Pokal win over Eintracht Braunschweig on Wednesday.

"He's a very emotional footballer, and without that emotion he would not be able to play so well," Guardiola said.

"Of course it's not easy when you are being singled out in big matches, but of course it would not be easy for us if we end up playing with only 10 men against Donetsk."

On Saturday, Bayern face a side who have not won a game since mid-December and, as a result, the pressure is mounting on their coach Tayfun Korkut.

"I'm constantly accompanied by pressure," the Turk said. "But I can cope with it well.

"I know what my task is and I have a duty towards the club, the city and this team."

Korkut will be without playmaker Lars Stindl, who is suspended, but Didier Ya Konan could be part of the squad.

"He's certainly in better shape than a week ago," the Hannover coach added.