Goals are icing on the cake for birthday-boy Mueller

Bayern Munich birthday boy Thomas Mueller said his two goals were the icing on the cake in the German giants’ 3-0 win at Israeli side Maccabi Haifa in their opening Champions League game.

Mueller turned 20 on Sunday and, having also scored twice in Bayern’s 5-1 Bundesliga win over Dortmund last Saturday, he weighed in with another pair at the Ramat Gan stadium in front of a 38,000-strong crowd.

“You?ve got to be pleased with three points at such an intimidating stadium,” said Mueller who netted twice in the last few minutes after Bayern’s Daniel van Buyten had opened the scoring on 64 minutes.

“We all saw Maccabi play some good football and it was tough going at times. We played well, but we couldn?t force the ball over the line.

“We were obviously delighted about scoring the opening goal, the other two goals just made the result safe. I tried to give everything for the team and scoring two goals was the crowning glory for me personally.”

Bayern earned three points and are now top of Group A after Bordeaux and Juventus drew in the other group match on Tuesday night.

The men from Munich were made to work hard for the victory and coach Louis van Gaal said his star player Franck Ribery needs to improve his fitness.

“It was the match I was expecting,” said the Dutchman.

“I think the first half was outstanding, but we failed to score. In the second half, we gave the ball away too often and we lost our shape a little.

“I corrected that with my substitutions, and we scored the goals. In the second half, you could see Franck Ribery was struggling with his fitness, but I knew he would.

“He needs to work his way back in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League. Maccabi can play football, and I think Juventus and Bordeaux will have problems winning here.”

In the next round of matches on September 30, Bayern host Italian giants Juventus while Maccabi Haifa are at French champions Bordeaux.