James Rodriguez: “Bayern Munich my favourite to win the Champions League”
James Rodriguez has tipped the current Bayern Munich squad to lift the club’s sixth UEFA Champions League title this season.
Bayern will continue their European quest when they welcome Besiktas to Germany for the first leg of their Last 16 tie next Tuesday.
Though the Turkish visitors will undoubtedly pose the Bundesliga league leaders a sizeable challenge, James told Sport Bild he and his team-mates should fear no-one in the fight for European club football’s premier prize.
"Bayern is my favourite to win the Champions League," James said. "We have a super team with top players. Why shouldn’t we win the Champions League?"
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Given Bayern’s form — they have won 20 of 21 competitive outings since Jupp Heynckes took over as coach from Carlo Ancelotti in October — the Colombia international’s statement has evidence to back it up.
James, 26, has also been playing some of the best football of his career, and has had a hand in ten goals — scoring four of them — in just 16 Bundesliga appearances.
Watch: James Rodriguez has been a goal and assist machine in his first season!
His flying start to his two-year loan deal from Real Madrid has, he admitted himself, been thanks in large part to Heynckes’ ability to speak fluent Spanish, courtesy — in part — to his time as coach of Madrid.
“That [speaking Spanish] has helped a great deal to integrate better into the game,” James said.