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Matthäus backs Bayern as Champions League contenders despite Hoeneß doubts

Bayern Munich supervisory board member Uli Hoeneß recently said that he doesn’t see the German champions as one of the favourites to win the Champions League, but rather as outsiders for the trophy.

Germany and Bayern legend Lothar Matthäus, however, disagrees with the Bayern chief.

“For me, Bayern are among the six best teams in Europe and part of the group of clubs capable of winning the title,” Matthäus wrote in a column for Sky.

“I also include defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City, and, with some reservations, Arsenal,” he added.

In his column, Matthäus also rejected claims that Bayern are lacking squad depth.

“Bayern’s squad is very well structured. The quality of the players and the cohesion within the team are excellent. They made a good signing with Luis Diaz and a good loan deal with Nicolas Jackson. And they have strengthened their squad with German internationals Jonathan Tah and Tom Bischof,” he wrote.

“Uli Hoeneß has been saying for years that young players need to be integrated. Now, finally, it’s a chance for these young players, like Bischof or Lennart Karl, to get playing time and prove themselves.”

The German champions take on Chelsea in their Champions League opener on Wednesday, and Matthäus expects them to win.

“Bayern’s opening opponents, Chelsea, may be club world champions, but I expect Bayern to win at home. They will have learned lessons from last season’s Champions League, when they failed due to poor chance conversion.

“In their 5-0 win against HSV on Saturday, Bayern eased off after half an hour, knowing that the coming weeks will be physically very demanding.”