Bayern must make amends in Basel, says Rummenigge

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists the German giants need to make amends for their poor Bundesliga form when they take on Basel in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Having won the domestic double in Germany last season, Bayern have got off to their worst league start in over 30 years and are ninth with just eight points from their first six games and are already 10 points behind leaders Mainz.

A 2-1 win at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Saturday made it six wins from six games for Mainz, but left Bayern’s plans for a strong start to the season in tatters.

Bayern need to bounce back with a strong performance at Basel’s St. Jakob Park to regain some flagging confidence and Rummenigge has put the blame for Saturday’s defeat squarely at the feet of the players.

“The nice thing about football is that you can make amends just three days later,” he said before insisting coach Louis van Gaal is not to blame for his side’s poor display.

“And we have to make amends, because a performance like that isn?t good enough for the Champions League – and not good enough for the Bundesliga either.”

Bayern have scored just five goals in six league games, and neither Germany striker Miroslav Klose nor Croatia’s Ivica Olic are hitting the back of the net.

“That has to improve. We?re used to our strikers providing us with plenty of goals, but they currently have none, and I don?t like that,” grumbled Rummenigge.

While Bayern were misfiring against Mainz, Basel warmed-up for Tuesday’s Group E match by earning a 4-1 win at FC Zurich.

“We were focused in defence, were patient in our build-up play and very effective in attack. We have to continue that on Tuesday,” said Basel coach Thorsten Fink, a former Bayern Munich player, whose side are second in the Swiss league.

“My team has put in a mature performance and responded well to the not so positive results from the last.”

With six points from their last six games prior to this weekend, Basel have also struggled for form this season and Bayern are favourites to add to the three points they already have from their 2-0 win over Roma a fortnight ago.

While Fink has few injury problems, Bayern are missing both their playmakers Arjen Robben, with a thigh injury, and ankle-injury victim Franck Ribery.