Arjen Robben hopes Bayern learn a lesson after being given a black eye

 
p88 p89 epa03622505 Munich's Arjen Robben reacts during the UEFA Champions League soccer round of sixteen between FC Bayern Munich and Arsenal FC in Munich, Germany, 13 March 2013. EPA/MARC MUELLER
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Nik Simon14 March 2013

Arjen Robben says the defeat to Arsenal will provide a “wake-up call” to Bayern Munich as they wait to hear their fate in tomorrow’s quarter-final draw.

It was the German side’s first home defeat since October and Robben (right) knows that with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus still in the competition, Munich must learn from last night’s display if they are to win the Champions League.

“All compliments to Arsenal, they did a great job and in the end it is a big disappointment for them but let’s hope this is a wake-up call for us,” said the Bayern midfielder. “We’ve played some great football this season and everyone has been speaking about us, saying we could not be any better. Maybe this can be good for us in the future.”

Munich manager Jupp Heynckes echoed Robben’s sentiments and admitted the loss had left his players with much to think about.

“We have to be critical of our performance. At the end, we did get away with a black eye, however,” said Heynckes. “That early goal made us lose our concept and rhythm a bit. I would not say we were surprised but we were not really up to it, especially during the first half.

“We never played as calm, as we usually do. This game should be an instructive example for us: You have never reached the next round, until the match is played. You could see today the Champions League is a different story compared to the Bundesliga.”

Bayern’s general manager Uli Hoeness was scathing of the team’s display.

“We have been playing disastrous football in the last three weeks,” said Hoeness. “If the team draw the right conclusions from this game then we will be okay. But we will not be able to win anything in the Champions League playing like that. If we keep on playing like we did against Arsenal then we will not beat anyone.”

Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray, Malaga and Paris Saint-Germain are the other teams in the quarter‑final draw, which will be held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland at 11am.

Antonio Banderas, Malaga’s most famous fan, criticised UEFA after his side’s 1-0 victory over Porto secured them a place in the quarter-finals. Malaga have been banned from European competition next season because of delayed payments to their creditors. The actor said: “We sincerely hope that justice is done. It was an excessively harsh decision and has a negative effect on the Spanish league.”

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