Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is hopeful an increased
intensity in training can inspire a repeat of last season's treble.
Guardiola's side have already wrapped up their Bundesliga
defence and remain in the hunt for UEFA Champions League and DFB-Pokal success.
Having been far from their best in the aggregate
quarter-final victory over Manchester United in Europe, Bayern were then
comprehensively beaten by Borussia Dortmund last Saturday as they suffered
back-to-back Bundesliga defeats.
After progressing to the Pokal final with a 5-1 win over Kaiserslautern
in midweek, Bayern face Eintracht Braunschweig before taking on Real Madrid in
the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Guardiola acknowledged a lack of intensity in training
could have contributed to their mini-slump.
"The game (at Braunschweig) is very important to us.
It is the last test before the game against Real Madrid," he said.
"I am sure that against Real Madrid, one of the best
teams in the world, we will put on a good performance.
"After the game against Dortmund, we improved our
training intensity. That was my mistake and not the players."
Guardiola will be without Manuel Neuer and David Alaba
for the game against the Bundesliga's lowest side - the former having limped
out of the defeat to Dortmund with a calf problem.
Alaba is suffering with flu although Guardiola did have
positive news on the recovery of Thiago Alcantara, who was ruled out for up to
eight weeks with a knee injury in March.
"His healing process is proceeding according to
plan," he said.
"We know how important the game in Braunschweig is.
The best players will play. There are some injured so no rotation. We can not
afford to rest."
Culled from Soccerway


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