The much anticipated draw for this season’s Champions League group stage has been made with the four German clubs involved all discovering their opponents. Here we bring you all the reaction from the Bundesliga participants as they mull over the potential glamour ties they face this Autumn…
Bayern Munich
Thomas Tuchel: “In the Champions League, every opponent is a challenge that we accept with great enthusiasm and dedication. Manchester United, FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray Istanbul are extremely attractive group opponents for the team and fans alike, and we look forward to seeing things get going on Europe’s stages soon.”
Thomas Müller: “We are happy that the Champions League is starting again. Prestigious duels and three clubs from top cities await. Manchester United is an authority in world football. With Erik ten Hag you have a former Bayern Amateur coach. Copenhagen and Galatasaray have exciting teams. The English weeks are the icing on the cake in our calendar – accordingly: Let’s go!”
Jan-Christian Dreesen: “We are all really looking forward to these football celebrations, it is and remains the premier class of club football. It was clear from the start that some top teams would be waiting, but now we have caught an interesting group with attractive opponents: Manchester United is one of the biggest names in European football, with which we have a number of historic duels. Galatasaray and Copenhagen both made it through qualifying, but we know their strengths. Since we won the title in Lisbon in 2020, we have been eliminated in the quarter-finals three times. It is our great wish that things go further this season, but to do that we have to survive in Group A first.”
Borussia Dortmund
Edin Terzic: “This group is a real challenge. A challenge that we look forward to and approach with full conviction. Paris St. Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle United: We have three strong opponents waiting for us. But that doesn’t change the fact that we’re going into the Champions League with great ambitions and want to move into the knockout phase.”
Emre Can: “Of all the groups, we certainly got the strongest. Every team has the quality to advance to the knockout phase. That is our goal. Difficult tasks await us, but we are certainly not a dream opponent for the other teams either.”
Sebastian Kehl: “An absolute cracker group. We’re looking forward to these games, and also to seeing one or the other former BVB player again. For me it’s the Champions League. We’ll do whatever it takes to get ahead and we have the skills to do it. I don’t think any of the other teams wanted Borussia Dortmund as an opponent either.”
RB Leipzig
Max Eberl: “There’s a hat trick against Manchester City – we’re facing the club for the third time in a row. We want to compete with the best teams – and Man City, the best team in Europe at the moment, is waiting for us.
“The encounter has a great side note, we can say goodbye to Josko Gvardiol in a nice setting. We have two exciting teams waiting for us in Belgrade and Bern – we’re looking forward to these games. But it’s also clear that we want to win against both teams.”
Union Berlin
Dirk Zingler (President) “Group games against Real and Napoli are exceptional. With Braga we have an opponent we already know from the UEFA Europa League. Today not only made me happy, but also a lot of Unioners.”
Robin Knoche: “A great group with strong opponents, beautiful stadiums and certainly a breathtaking atmosphere. We and our fans are looking forward to the games in the Champions League.”
