Bayern moved within an ace of sealing the 2014/15 Bundesliga title with a tight 1-0 victory over Hertha BSC on Saturday – and the club’s 25th German championship could be a mathematical reality on Sunday evening in the event VfL Wolfsburg fail to win away to Borussia Mönchengladbach. “We’re almost champions already,” commented Pep Guardiola after his team’s workmanlike victory over obdurate Berlin. “It’s not easy when you have games every two or three days,” said Manuel Neuer, “at the end of the day the result is totally OK.”
Reaction to FCB v Hertha
Pep Guardiola: “For the game after the Champions League we had a lot of youngsters in the team. We knew it was going to be tough. We have lots of playing time in our legs and we’ve had very few breaks. My team are magnificent. I’m incredibly proud of my players, because it wasn’t easy after the Champions League. We’re running on empty. A big challenge lies ahead. We’re almost champions already, so now we have to concentrate on the other competitions.”
Manuel Neuer: “Hertha parked the bus and strung everyone across the edge of their own penalty area, so you need a moment of magic like the one for the goal. I hope we were keeping our powder dry for Tuesday. It’s not easy when you have games every two or three days. We’ve used up a lot of energy and that’s why it might have looked a bit turgid in the first half. At the end of the day the result is totally OK."
Mitchell Weiser: “Berlin pulled everyone back and that made it hard for us. We had to be very patient but we were rewarded at the end.”
Pal Dardai (Hertha BSC coach): “I’m not totally disappointed today, because my team were very good in the first half. We missed a huge chance in the second half, but at the end of the day it’s a deserved win for Bayern. They put us under a lot of pressure at the end. But I’m still proud of my team. We played well with great tactical discipline. I have no criticism of my players.”
Nico Schulz (Hertha BSC): “I know I should have taken our one big chance. I’m angry with myself, but that’s football.”