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Munich (AP) - Defending champion FC Bayern quickly left the safe entry into the record quarter-finals behind.
Before coach Hansi Flick dared to take a look at the tingling draw for the next round of the Champions League, the successful coach reported on a clarifying conversation with sports director Hasan Salihamidzic.
“We both approached each other and created it out of the world, in line with the association's interests.
That was a short conversation, ”said Flick after the 2-1 win in the second leg of the round of 16 against Lazio.
"In terms of that, we are both very optimistic for the rest of the season, for the future of us."
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That should also please the players, because the reported differences between Flick and Salihamidzic were also followed there.
«You notice what is being written, discussed outside.
At the end of the day it would be nicer with the success if there was peace and quiet if, above all, there was no fuel to the outside world, ”said soccer international Joshua Kimmich.
"I think that it doesn't burden us as a team that much."
After the debate, it should not be in the quarter-finals, for which the tingling draw is due on Friday.
In Nyon, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool FC, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Chelsea FC and FC Porto can be drawn as opponents for the next round.
The first legs will be on 6./7.
April, the second leg will take place a week later on 13/14.
April.
The possible semi-final pairings will also be determined during the draw in Switzerland.
"There are still eight teams in the round, the best of the best play against each other," said Flick.
"It's important that we get a good opponent and deliver two top games."
FC Bayern are in the quarter-finals for the 19th time - no team has made it in the Champions League.
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Lazio, who lost 4-1 in the first leg three weeks ago in Rome, cannot be a benchmark.
World footballer Robert Lewandowski (33rd / foul penalty) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (73rd), who was substituted for him later, ensured the victory, which Kimmich classified as "very important".
Lewandowski's 39 competitive goals in 35 games are by far the best in Europe.
It follows Dortmund's Erling Haaland with 31 goals.
Goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, who stood in for Manuel Neuer, who had a cold, was annoyed by Marco Parolo's late goal (82nd) on his third Bayern appearance.
"The downside is the goal," admitted the generally satisfied Flick.
"The way we play football is what I imagine it to be."
Flick and Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel, who made it to the quarter-finals on Wednesday with a win against Atlético Madrid, created a novelty.
Four German coaches are in the quarter-finals with Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool) and Edin Terzic (Dortmund) - no nation has achieved that before.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210318-99-868587 / 2