Champions cheerful despite derby draw

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1240 votes: 2

27.08.2006

An air of satisfaction descended over all the major protagonists following Saturday's 174th Bavarian derby between Bayern and Nuremberg. The goalless draw kept the visitors on top of the standings, while Munich have the same number of points, maintained their unbeaten start, and produced arguably their best display of term.

"Obviously we wanted to win," Felix Magath commented afterwards, "but the way we dominated the second half and created a string of chances is above criticism." The Reds were unable to continue their perfect opening to the campaign, "but we can be satisfied and live perfectly well with seven points from three games."

Smiling Hoeneß

"I thought we'd have a more difficult start," Oliver Kahn admitted, expressing satisfaction at his side's upwards form curve. "It's coming together gradually, and we'll be in good shape for the Champions League," the club captain declared following a first goalless draw against neighbouring Nuremberg in five seasons.

General manager Uli Hoeneß had a smile on his face as he hurried away from the Allianz Arena, once again packed to its 69,000 capacity. The board director's upbeat mood stemmed on the one hand from the spectacular transfer coup landing Dutch mark Mark van Bommel, but also from the double winners' promising display, "especially in the last half hour, when we were excellent."

One of those days

Senior figures at the club had warned that Bayern would be forced to "muddle through" the early weeks of the season, but Saturday's performance was emphaticly nothing of the sort. However, the Reds failed to take their chances. "It was one of those days when the ball simply refused to go in. When that happens, you have to be satisfied with a draw," Magath reflected.

"I'm not especially unhappy," Hoeneß agreed afterwards. "We created plenty of chances against very defensive opponents. I thought Bayern were the better team against the league leaders today. And if I'm forced to hand over a point to anyone, then it would always be Nuremberg." The general manager spent a season of his playing career with Saturday's visitors, and part-owns a sausage manufacturing business in the city.

Makaay remorseful

Bayern would almost certainly have won had Roy Makaay not failed to convert the best chance of the match. "I'll have to watch it again, because I still don't believe it," the striker declared with a shake of his head, after uncharacteristically side-footing wide from eight yards out. "We've dropped two points completely unnecessarily, and that's partly my fault," he conceded.