Bayern Munich vs Schalke 04 - Pep Guardiola warns Bayern Munich that Bundesliga title race is not over
Posted Friday, April 15, 2016 by PA
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola and director of sport Matthias Sammer have both warned that there is still a lot of work to be done before they can celebrate winning a fourth straight Bundesliga title.
Bayern play host to Schalke, the side who gave them a hand last weekend by taking two points off their only title challengers Borussia Dortmund, on Saturday knowing a win could send them 10 points clear - at least temporarily.
"There are still five games to go and we need two more wins and a draw to fulfil my biggest dream for this year," said Guardiola at his pre-match press conference.
"It would be a fourth straight Bundesliga title and it is in our own hands, but just look at Barcelona and see how quickly things can change.
"We're not champions yet, but if we do beat Schalke, then we will be very close."
A win could see Bayern wrap up the title a week later, if Dortmund fail to pick up maximum points against Hamburg on Sunday, but Sammer says that is not going to happen.
"I can say with total conviction that Dortmund are not going to drop any more points," Sammer said.
"I am totally convinced about that. They are so solid that they are going to maintain their rhythm.
"Tomorrow's game against Schalke is a final for us, and you can never tell where you stand with them.
"Whenever they appear to be down, they react."
That is not lost on the players either, with captain Philipp Lahm saying that Bayern must "not take things lightly and let Dortmund back in" as they look to get their hands on the title as soon as possible, in order to focus on reaching the final of the Champions League.
Although doing a favour to their local rivals Dortmund is the last thing Schalke want, they need three points to keep their own hopes of qualifying for the Champions League alive.
Defeat in Munich could see them fall six points adrift of the top four.
"It's so tight in the battle for places in Europe that I think it's going to be exciting right to the final day of the season," Schalke boss Andre Breitenreiter told the club's official website.
"We've got to be fully focused for all of our remaining five matches. We're definitely outsiders, but we're still in confident mood and want to get a positive result.
"If we go into the game wanting to hide, then we've got no chance. We will give it our best and try to get points there."
Schalke are without their full-back Sead Kolasinac, who is suspended, while Marco Hoger and Matija Nastasic are injured.
Arjen Robben is still out for Bayern, but Jerome Boateng is on the verge of a return to training for the Bavarians.
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