• Tips Bayern for UCL title
By Morakinyo Abodunrin
Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr said the 2020 UEFA Champions League (UCL) semi-final pairings are mouth-watering ties that would be a spectacle to watch even as he backed his former German Bundesliga side, Bayern Munich, to go all the way. The interesting semi-finals to be played as one-off match in Portugal will see a German Bundesliga side tango against a French Ligue 1 side as PSG and RB Leipzig clash tomorrow at The Estádio da Luz in Lisbon; while Bayern Munich tackle Lyon at the Estádio José Alvalade on Wednesday.
“ As a Franco-German ( general laughter) I’m very happy with the semi-final fixtures because which way you look at it, I’m going to be a winner, “ the 67-year-old former Bayern Munich defender told NationSport. “ But my heart will be for Bayern Munich, my former club of course; and I’m happy that three of the four coaches in the semi-finals are Germans.
“This means we have good school and coaching tradition in Germany; and I’m happy for Bayern coach Hans-Dieter “Hansi” Flick who is my personal friend; and also know the two other German coaches too (Thomas Tuchel of PSG ; and Julian Nagelsmann of Leipzig).
“ They all made good impression in the quarter finals with their tactics as well as substitutions ; and I think the semi-finals are going to be pleasant to watch.”
While Tuesday’s clash between PSG and RB Leipzig would be their first ever in an European competition, Wednesday’s fixture between Bayern and Lyon will be their ninth encounter in European competitions but Rohr said it was painful no Super Eagles is in any of the final four teams.
“ The semi-finals are interesting but I regret there is no Super Eagles in any of the semi-finalists but we I’m happy there is Joshua Zirkzee Who is a Dutch-Nigerian with Bayern and Ademola Lookman who is British-Nigerian with Leipzig,” noted Rohr who also featured for French club, Bordeaux in his heyday.
