Manuel Neuer isn't asking for divine intervention when Bayern Munich face Paris Saint-Germain away in the UEFA Champions League. - © imago
Manuel Neuer isn't asking for divine intervention when Bayern Munich face Paris Saint-Germain away in the UEFA Champions League. - © imago
bundesliga

Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer: "PSG have problems at the back"

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Manuel Neuer is optimistic holders Bayern Munich can overturn a 3-2 home defeat when they face Paris Saint-Germain in Tuesday's make-or-break UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg.

>> Click here for PSG vs. Bayern team news!

bundesliga.com rounds up the pre-match thoughts from both camps...

Bayern Munich

Manuel Neuer (goalkeeper): "We need to stay calm in our heads, but have fire in our heart. We want to approach the game the right way, with motivation, a good attitude of course, and the stability you need against such quick players. We’ll need to keep our cool, play attacking football and put them under pressure. They have problems at the back. If we create as many chances as we did in Munich, then we can do it."

Watch: Manuel Neuer looks ahead to Tuesday's crunch tie in Paris

Alphonso Davies (defender): "We did well in the first leg. We had a lot of chances to win the first leg, but we have another chance to win the game [in Paris]. Hopefully we’ll put away our chances. Our mindset is strong. For sure, we’ll turn this thing around."

Thomas Müller (forward): "We’ll need to do a lot of things like we did in the first leg, and some things very differently. We need to be more precise, both in attack and in defence. Our attitude was fine, but we weren’t precise enough with our finishing and there were too many mistakes at both ends of the pitch. We all need to sharpen our senses, be fully focussed and be on our game, whether it’s a big tackle at the back to clear the ball, or improving on our poor chance conversion from the first leg. We need to make a big improvement in that regard, and then we’ll have a realistic chance, but obviously we’ve put ourselves in a very difficult situation.

"Unfortunately we have suffered a few injuries, but we feel we have the quality and are mentally capable of turning the game around. We'll approach the game as we normally do. It's important to balance risks in individual situations. We won't be going all-out attack from the off, but we will try to score an early goal."

Watch: Thomas Müller targets improved showing in the French capital

Benjamin Pavard (defender): "We’ll be looking at everything we did well, and everything we didn’t. I’m optimistic we’ll play well. We’ll have to do everything to qualify, but we’re going there to win."

Joshua Kimmich (midfielder): "We’re the better team, I believe that we will progress. We were the better team in the first leg but unfortunately the result didn’t correspond to the performance. Nevertheless, I’m confident that we can still turn it around in the second leg. A lot will come down to mentality, but also efficiency. We already showed a good mentality in the first game but we weren’t efficient enough. This time we need to do both! Every player must become a leader in this game; everyone must show their character on the day and carry total belief in themselves. It’s still all to play for – and Paris know that too."

Hansi Flick (head coach): "We know it’s not going to be easy, but we also know we’re going to do everything we can to reach the semi-finals. We’re confident, and full of optimism. We were all very disappointed after the first leg. Now we have to make sure that tomorrow that we show the same efficiency that Paris showed against us last Wednesday. We have to force them into mistakes, defend well and score at least two goals. It’s a tough challenge, but we’re all looking forward to it. These are the games players join Bayern for. We’re all out to spring a little surprise in Paris."

Paris Saint-Germain

Kylian Mbappe (forward): "I love to play against the best players in world, and Manuel Neuer is one of the best keepers in history. It was a difficult game against the best team in Europe right now, and we suffered. We were a lucky because Bayern had so many chances, but we were very efficient. It’s just half-time in a huge tie, though."

Julian Draxler (midfielder): "It was already very difficult and we were chasing back a lot. But we have the quality to score the goals up front. It was a good first step. But you saw Bayern’s quality. It will be a very tough second leg."

Mauricio Pochettino (head coach): "To score three goals against such a good team is enormously difficult. Our plan worked, but we also had that necessary slice of luck. It’s a very positive result, even though everything is still wide open."