ESPN Network:
ESPN.com
ESPN Deportes
Fantasy Games
|
|
|
| Monday, August 5, 2002 22:21 EST |
Bayern favored to win title after falling short last year
[Reuters]
BERLIN -- Franz Beckenbauer had words of
praise on Monday for Bayern Munich's new signing, German
international midfielder Michael Ballack, saying he was one of
the best players in the world.
"He's on a par with the likes of Zinedine Zidane. He belongs
with the Bundesliga's best," former World Cup winner Beckenbauer
told Die Welt newspaper.
Bayern beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the final of a preseason
centenary tournament at the Bernabeu on Sunday, with Ballack
converting a penalty on 27 minutes to open the scoring.
The gifted Ballack joined Bayern for $6.21 million from Champions League runners-up Bayer Leverkusen in the close season and he is seen as a natural
replacement for Stefan Effenberg who has been given a free
transfer. "I intend to make my mark here," Ballack said.
Beckenbauer said the arrival of Ballack and other
world-class stars such as Brazilian Ze Roberto, also from
Leverkusen, and Sebastian Deisler from Hertha Berlin was no
guarantee Bayern would win its 18th Bundesliga title.
"It's not a guarantee. If we became champions every year,
the others would stop wanting to play us at some point. But a
place in the Champions League is essential," Beckenbauer said.
Beckenbauer said Bayern had to make sure it had a strong
start to the season.
"Otherwise we'll be running to catch up all year. In some
cases we didn't react until it was too late," he said.
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said this year's
squad is the best ever.
The club's commercial manager Uli Hoeness said the will
to succeed was back after flagging last season, when Bayern
failed to land any silverware for the first time since 1995.
Bayern finished third in the Bundesliga and lost in the
Champions League at the quarterfinal stage to eventual winners
Real Madrid.
"I believe that our team has desire. Then I see what extra
strength we have in the team now with Ballack. Oliver Kahn is in
top form again, he showed that in Madrid. I am confident that
the team will really grow together in the coming days," Hoeness
told Die Welt.
Bayern is the overwhelming favorite to win the German
championship this season, with 15 of the 18 Bundesliga first
division coaches backing Bayern to win the title.
The new German league season kicks off on August 9.
|
|
|
|
|
|
