Bayern will take the game to Lyon – Van Gaal

(GSM) – Bayern München boss Louis van Gaal has assured that his side won’t approach the second leg of their Champions League semi-final clash with Olympique Lyon in a defensive way.

“When I used to manage teams in the Netherlands I always said to my players that German teams fight until the last minute,” Van Gaal told a press conference ahead of tonight’s match.

“You could never say you’d won until the final whistle. We must do the same here.”

Bayern will have to protect their single goal lead in the absence of a few key faces. Anatoliy Tymoshchuk is suffering from gastroenteritis, Franck Ribery is suspended and Martin Demichelis, Daniel van Buyten and Diego Contento all picked up knocks in training.

“Unfortunately, several players had injury troubles at the weekend,” Van Gaal continued.

“We have brought 17 players and if they cannot play, then we will still have 14 players. We will still be able to field 11 players.”

Finally, the Dutch tactician rejected comments from Mark van Bommel and Bastian Schweinsteiger that his side would take a defensive approach to the match.

“We are not the kind of team whose aim is just to avoid conceding goals when we enter the field,” he said.

“I’ve never told my players to play like that since the beginning of the season and I won’t start on Tuesday.”