Champions League final 'biggest match' : Ribery
Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery said in an interview published on Monday that this weekend's Champions League final is "the most important" match of his career, as the German club prepares to take on Chelsea.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: May 14, 2012 04:07 PM IST
Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery said in an interview published on Monday that this weekend's Champions League final is "the most important" match of his career, as the German club prepares to take on Chelsea.
The 29-year-old France international said he was looking forward to making up for missing out on Bayern's last appearance in the showpiece finale to the European club tournament, when he was suspended for their 2-0 defeat to Inter Milan two years ago.
"Of course there's the World Cup and the Euros but this match is the most important of my career," he was quoted as saying by Kicker magazine, adding that Bayern were even better than in 2010.
"We're a lot more relaxed. We don't put as much pressure on ourselves and we enjoy playing more," he added, attributing the changes to the arrival of coach Jupp Heynckes, who replaced Louis van Gaal with whom Ribery had strained relations.
For Ribery, Heynckes has "introduced a good atmosphere and the players have a lot of confidence in him".
The former Marseille star said that the last match is crucial as Bayern could still finish the season empty-handed, after they were beaten 5-2 by Bundesliga champions Dortmund in the German cup final earlier this month.
The Champions League final will also be a key confidence booster going into the European championships in June, as Ribery has been named in France coach Laurent Blanc's squad for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
Ribery has had his best season statistically since joining Bayern in 2007, scoring 12 goals and registering 21 assists.