Bayern delighted with prolific Pizarro

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1328 votes: 2

23.11.2006

It is hard to imagine a pizza delivery service working particularly well in Moscow. The traffic jams and near-gridlock conditions at all times of the day and night in the metropolis of 11 million would surely render the pizza inedible by the time it was finally delivered.

By contrast, Bayern's own 'Pizza Express' is proving an outstanding success. Claudio "Pizza" Pizarro's cracking brace in Wednesday evening's meeting with Spartak Moscow had his coach beaming from ear to ear. "Claudio was the best striker on the park, and not just because of his goals," Felix Magath enthused afterwards.

All-round talent

The double strike was Pizarro's third brace in the Champions League and took him on to four goals for the season, a new personal best. The two he netted in Moscow could hardly have differed more greatly from each other. The first was an artfully flicked header from 12 yards out, the second a full-blooded twenty-five yard belter into the top corner - and this despite the attentions of no fewer than six opponents.

"That shows his vast range of skills. Claudio is in a position to score from any situation, and that's his greatest strength," Magath declared. "He has all it takes to be one of the best strikers in Europe," the coach has insisted in the past. The Peruvian has been doing his best to match that lofty assessment recently, firing the winning goal both in the 3-2 triumph against Bayer Leverkusen and the following weeks 2-1 success against VfB Stuttgart.

Contract talks pending

"Scoring goals is my job," the player modestly commented at the final whistle, barely concealing his dismay at Bayern failing to seal top spot in the group. "I think I'm in good shape, and I'll do my best to keep it that way," was all he would say of his own gala performance.

Pizarro is well aware that every goal in the current phase helps not only the team but his personal cause as well, as his current contract expires next summer. Initial talks over an extension were swiftly broken off by the club following after the player submitted a proposed salary figure.

Better than Shevchenko?

"If he wants to earn like Shevchenko, he'll have to play like Shevchenko," Karl-Heinz Rummenigge declared a few weeks ago. The Peruvian has in fact pulled well clear of the Ukrainian superstar this season, at least in terms of goals. "Sheva" has yet to find the target in the Champions League for his new club Chelsea.

"The goals and my consistent displays have nothing to do with my contract," Pizarro insisted, although he confirmed his desire to continue pulling on Bayern colours after 30 June 2007. For their part, the Bavarians would have no complaints at all if their very own "Pizza Express" continues to deliver a such a regular basis.