Back by very popular demand is the return of Ask The Opposition. Our segment where we ask fans of opposing teams forums some questions and post a selection of the responses back on here.
As a treat, I've asked questions to fans of Bayern on BayernForum and here are their responses. Thanks to some newbie users for providing some of the questions (they have been credited). Here is the thread for the questions from the first leg:
Q1: What did you make of Bayern's first leg performance? (question suggested by Annihilate Now!)
MUTU: I'd say it was the worst performance I've seen this season, excluding the matches where Guardiola rested a number of players, such as what happened against Augsburg.
prasun77: Below par.Everyone knows bayern can play much much better!
FCBayernMunchen: Expected more from Bayern, like most people I guess. The result was still positive for Bayern so I am not too disappointed, but it was a game we could have won even with the way both teams played.
MoFattal: The way I see it is that our guys entered the game with the mindset of a favorite and were surprised by how solid United are. This led to a sub-par performance where we couldn't create much chances of note to break down the United defense. The 1st leg definitely served as a perfect case study for Pep and co.
sch0ll7: I think we had a good game...everyone knew there would be some counters from you guys. We were in control at Old Trafford and put you under a lot of pressure so thats a good thing. We should have started with Mandzo on top as we would be more dangerous with him. Shouldnt have conceded a goal from a corner. You were quite solid at defending.
Q2: Do you feel United "parking the bus" ruined the contest, or was it a logical and tactically acceptable approach to counter your possession game? (question suggested by Annihilate Now!)
MUTU: I always despise such formations, to the extent that sometimes I wish there were rules against them in order to make the match more interesting. That said, it's a valid tactical approach and it worked out better than expected for Manchester United.
prasun77: They are free to use whichever strategy they want we being world champions must know how to counter it!
FCBayernMunchen: I do not like the style at all but I share Pep's opinion: United are free to play whatever way they want to and I think it made sense to play that waay against Bayern. However, I do not think that United will succeed in going through if they attempt to recreate last Tuesday's game.
MoFattal: I can't really blame United for doing so as much as I can't blame any other team to do it against us. It's not nice football, but it is the correct thing to do at this level of the competition.
sch0ll7: It was acceptable. Everyone knew that would be the gameplan. It would be a suicide mission if you tried to open up and come at us.
Q3: If Wayne Rooney is indeed out of the second leg, who would you view as United's biggest threat? (question suggested by Annihilate Now!)
MUTU: I remember Wayne Rooney take off a fake cast moments before a Champions League match at the Allianz Arena and smashing home the opener in the 2nd minute. Once bitten, twice shy. I don't buy it anymore. But in order to answer your question, I'd say Hernandez. Easily better than Welbeck from the limited time I've seen him.
prasun77: DE GEA(
) ...WELBECK!FCBayernMunchen: Maybe Javier Hernandez? Not sure to be honest. I find Rooney to be a bit overrated but he is still a big blow to your team if he does indeed miss the game.
MoFattal: Wayne Rooney is not out. The biggest threats are Wayne Rooney and De Gea on goal.
sch0ll7: He was one of your best players against us. He gave some good through passes and was always a threat when on counter. I doubt Chicharito? or Kagawa will have so much influence. Rooney is also a beast when it comes to pressing and helping in defence.
Q4: How big a blow do you think not having Schweinsteiger, Martinez and Thiago for the second leg will be? (question suggested by JTW95)
MUTU: If you asked us this question 2-3 years ago with similar players at the time, I'd say we'd be almost definitely eliminated. But now we have enough depth to mitigate this situation and put out a good starting XI. Our bench will be very thin though. A total of 9 professional players will be missing: Starke, Raeder, Badstuber, Contento, Thiago, Schweinsteiger, Martinez, Shaqiri and Green.
prasun77: This reduces our depth but i think we will get through!
FCBayernMunchen: The problem here is that each one makes the others missed more. Schweinsteiger will obviously be missed. He is one of the best midfielders in the world and he's our most in-form midfielder at the moment. But I don't think we would have missed him so much had Thiago been fit. Thiago was playing very well prior to his injury and might have started even with Schweinsteiger available, so he will be missed a lot as a Schweini replacement. Martinez will probably be missed the least. He would not have played anyway now that Dante is available. He would have been great to replace Schweinsteiger, so Schweinsteiger's absence means we will miss him more, and I think he would probably have done better than Schweinsteiger in that position. I am a strong advocate of having a purely defensive midfielder in the lineup and Martinez is one of the best there. However, I have my doubts that Pep would have started Martinez in midfield had Schweinsteiger been the only one suspended anyway. At this moment Martinez is being wasted at Bayern.
MoFattal: Martinez' absence will not be of huge significance as he's been already playing out of position. He's going to have to wait for the latter stages if we go through. Bastian, on the other hand, had become an integral part of the squad after returning from injury, and I feel that we will miss him in midfield. Thiago's absence has been the most noticeable in the past few games. He's a creative player who can create something out of narrow space. He isn't as important as Basti, but against United's game plan he would make a big impact. Having said this, we still have enough quality in midfield to compensate for all three guys above, but a 100% level of performance is required.
sch0ll7: Martinez and Thiago would probably warm the bench even if they were fit. Schweini missing is a bigger blow but that is not the first time we would be without him. Our best games came when we had Lahm, Kroos and Gotze playing in the middle. So I think we will be more unpredictable with that midfield trio.
Q5: You have a new stadium now. What was the mood like when you moved out of the Olympiastadion and what were your thoughts of the move then, and now? (question suggested by Haddock)
MUTU: It was a dream for fans and players alike. I remember Santa Cruz in an interview while the Allianz Arena was being built and he was dreaming about the day he'd walk in that stadium for the first time. By the way, the first competitive goal scored at the Allianz Arena was by none other than Owen Hargreaves.
prasun77: Apprehensive...would it be lucky for us or not!but it seems to have turned out well!
FCBayernMunchen: The Olympiastadion is a historic stadium and Bayern won a lot of trophies there, but the move was necessary. I only started following Bayern's every game after the move to the Allianz Arena, and only watched a few games before that. I did visit the Olympiastadion as a child though and I can imagine how annoying it was to watch games with the track around the pitch. It was a much-needed move.
MoFattal: Olympiastadion was always a joy to watch, but the Allianz Arena was an upward step towards being the best in the world.
sch0ll7: I guess most of the fans were glad we finaly got a new football-only stadium. Olympic stadium was historic and we had some good times there but it was not so good for the fans...roof missing, too much distance from the stands, no parking, etc...
Building a new stadium was a must and it also made us one of the richest clubs in the world.
Q6: There has been speculation of a European Super League for a long time now, and the chairman of Galatasaray reckons this will be a reality within five years (source). What do you make of the comments, and would you be for or against the formation of it? (question suggested by mata10)
MUTU: I don't think it will happen. It would be the death for football because the difference between the rich and the not-so-rich would continue to increase tremendously. Hardly anyone would watch the domestic leagues on TV anymore. They'd be equivalent to the second-tier divisions
prasun77: Obviously for the motion,nothing beats it but i don't think it will b a reality anytime soon.... lots of changes and detailed promotion and relegation rules are required!
FCBayernMunchen: I do not like the idea at all, although it would mean that the best team will win more often. The Champions League involves an element of luck and form on the day.
MoFattal: A European Super League would be a lot more interesting for the footballing fans. However, such league would kill football for the vast majority of clubs and it would be suicide to go with such plan. The CL can be modified to be more league-like, but that should be as far as it goes.
sch0ll7: I think that CL is one of the best competitions in the world atm and there is no need for a change. ESL would just make big clubs richer and would kill all other clubs and competitions.
Q7: Most underrated Bayern player in recent times? (question suggested by Haddock)
MUTU: Everyone's had their fair chance but I'd have to go with Rafinha who, against all expectations, not only managed to turn a bench role into a starting role under Guardiola but is also in the frame for Scolari's Brazil squad, even earning a cap recently.
prasun77: Thiago...bayern fans don't underrate him others do!
FCBayernMunchen: Mario Mandzukic and Thiago. It was Kroos up till a few months ago but now he is both appreciated more and playing worse (because of his form).
MoFattal: Thiago. He has always performed well when playing, and his absence has been felt over the last couple of games.
sch0ll7: Definitely Scholl
without all the injuries he would be one of the football greats. Ribery...he was always world class and top 3 wingers in the world..while being our most important attacking player...but you could read people comparing him to Nani and likes just few seasons ago.Q8: Conversely, a Bayern player who flopped who you wish had been a success? (question suggested by Haddock)
MUTU: Mario Goetze. Came with huge promise but so far only showed some flashes of brilliance and they were too few and far apart. He's way too inconsistent.
prasun77: no one....but on an relative scale Mandzukic!
FCBayernMunchen: Not flopped, but was hoping for more from Shaqiri and Gotze. If we're going for a real flop, probably Kraft comes to mind in recent years.
MoFattal: That's a tricky one. I can't really say that any of the players flopped over the entire season, but many had "low" periods this term. I'd the currently, I'm worried the most about Tommy Muller.
sch0ll7: Deisler...if we count him not being mentaly all there as a flop. Another one would be Podolski and Breno.
Q9: Do you think United have a chance with the score being 1-1 in the first leg, or with the match being at home is it pretty much a formality? Do you think Moyes is playing mind games with regards to Rooney’s injury, like what happened in 2010? (question suggested by mata10)
MUTU: These are two questions, the second of which I've answered in Q1. As for the first, yes there's a good chance, especially looking at United's away record this season, Bayern's home record against English clubs the last couple of seasons and the fact that Bayern have been unable to win in their last 3 matches. I'd say it's 65-35 to Bayern.
prasun77: Moyes is not that intelligent to play mind games but i think rooney will play!United have a chance since we are not in good form!
FCBayernMunchen: A chance is there, definitely. Bayern are not in the best form and we have some injury problems. But I do think Bayern will show up on Wednesday and close the tie early in the game. I think that we will be eliminated if United score in the first 20 minutes.
I am doubtful of Rooney's injury but I have a feeling that he really will miss the game this time.
MoFattal: The first leg showed that there is always a chance, and the 1-1 score line makes that chance bigger for United. I think it's clear that Moyes is trying to play some mind games but it was way too obvious for the public.
sch0ll7: Its a tricky one. United will probably play the same way they did at OT. Most important thing will be who scores the first goal. If we score first we will probably add some more. If you score first than everything can happen. I am afraid that something "chelsea like" will happen. Us having million chances and corners...and than you score 1 from a corner
My first thought was that Rooney`s injury is not what everyone is saying and that he will be clear to start just before the match.Q10: Are there any youth prospects you have that you’re excited about/looking forward to perhaps see breakthrough in the future?
MUTU: Without any doubt the answer on everyone's lips will be Højbjerg and Green. The latter is out injured at the moment, but the former was the best outfield player against Augsburg in the last Bundesliga match, outshining Schweinsteiger and Kroos. I expect very big things from the 18-year old.
prasun77: Hojbjerg,Green,Friesenbichler,Sallahi (and Can may come back too!)
FCBayernMunchen: Hojbjerg. I've been excited about his talent for a very long time and yesterday we finally got the chance to see him play for 90 minutes with the senior team in a competitive match. Definitely the best outfield player on the field for Bayern.
Green is another exciting one and he's just been called for the US national team despite the fact that he's still playing for Bayern's reserves in the fourth division. We have yet to see him play for a significant amount of time with the senior team though.
MoFattal: Hojbjerg showed last night that he is a world-class player in the making. I think he is the only one who'll get a "star" status in the future. This would also be applicable for Emre Can if he returned.
sch0ll7: My biggest wish is for Emre Can to succeed..and we get him back. He is one of those players that can make it on the big stage. But sadly I dont see anyone else having potential Muller, Kroos or Alaba had.
Q11: How do you expect both teams to line up?
MUTU: Not sure about United, but Bayern's should be like this: Neuer - Rafinha, Boateng, Dante, Alaba - Lahm, Kroos - Robben, Müller, Ribéry - Mandžukić
I expect United to 'park the bus' even more than in the first leg, trying to keep a clean sheet until the 80th minute or so, and then try to push for a winner.
prasun77: Bayern have very limited options and about the manutd line-up u guys know better i guess!
FCBayernMunchen: Neuer - Rafinha, Boateng, Dante, Alaba - Lahm, Kroos - Robben, Muller, Ribery – Mandzukic
MoFattal: I think Pep will go striker-less again for this one, with Neuer-Rafinha,Boateng,Dante,Alaba-Kroos,Lahm-Robben,Gotze,Ribery-Muller
I have no idea who United will start but I'll take a guess: De Gea-Valencia,Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra- Carrick, Jones - Young, Kagawa, Welbeck – Rooney
sch0ll7:
............Mandzo............
Ribery....Gotze........Robben
........Kroos...Lahm.........
Alaba..Dante...Boateng...Rafinha
..............Neuer..................
..............Welbeck..............
Young.......Kagawa........Valencia
.........Carrick...Jones?..........
Evra?...Vidic......Rio......Rafael?
..............DDG..................
Q12: Score predictions?
MUTU: I'm stumped, really.
prasun77: 2-0 for Bayern
FCBayernMunchen: 2-0 or 3-1 for Bayern. If we score very early in the game it may be a huge win. If you score very early in the game it will be either a United win or it will go to extra time.
MoFattal: Bayern 2 - 0 United
sch0ll7: 2:1
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If any of you have any suggestions on what we should do as part of this, or any questions for future games, reply to the thread, PM me or tweet @red_cafe, thank you.
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