The win against Stuttgart in the German Cup final was Bayern’s 45th in 53 matches in all competitions this season. PHOTO: AFP
Having claimed their fifth European crown in Wembley and won the Bundesliga with a record tally of 91 points, Bayern completed the set with their 16th German Cup title.
The Bavarian giants won the European Cup in three straight seasons in the 1970s, but coach Jupp Heynckes ended his two-year tenure in charge of the most successful Bayern side of all time.
Striker Mario Gomez, who made a rare start ahead of Mario Mandzukic, hit two after the break to add to Thomas Mueller’s first-half penalty as Bayern cruised to a 3-0 lead.
But a bullet header on 71 minutes, then a well-placed shot, both from Austria’s Martin Harnik, 10 minutes from time, ensured a nervous finale as Bayern weathered Stuttgart’s late onslaught.
“We’ve finally achieved what has never been done before in German football,” said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm. “It is unbelievable what this team has done. It’s been a stressful month, but the last week has made it worthwhile.”
Ex-Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola will replace Heynckes as Bayern head coach on June 26, but after just three defeats and 11 league points dropped all season, it is hard to see where he can improve.
“We have a great team that has been outstanding,” beamed winger Arjen Robben. “I am proud to be part of it.
“It wasn’t easy after the Champions League final, but we’ve won the triple for Jupp Heynckes and we deserve it.”
Heynckes backs a Bayern star to win world award
Heynckes has said he expects a Bayern star to break Lionel Messi’s stranglehold on the player-of-the-year award after the historic treble.
Barcelona’s Messi, 25, has been voted the world’s best footballer for the last four years, but Heynckes expects the winner of the 2013 Ballon d’Or to come from a quartet of Bayern stars.
“I assume it will come from four players: Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery or Thomas Mueller,” said Heynckes. “For me, these are the four candidates who must clean up this year.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2013.
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