Dutch winger Arjen Robben says his Bayern Munich side must be wary of defending champions Werder Bremen in Saturday’s German Cup final as they look to take another step closer to the treble.
Bayern secured the Bundesliga crown last weekend at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, but will return there on Saturday to face cup holders Bremen before heading to Madrid for next Saturday’s Champions League final against Inter Milan.
Robben has terrorised defences in Germany since his arrival from Real Madrid last October with 22 goals, 18 of which came in the Bundesliga, but says Bayern must be on their guard against Bremen.
The Thomas Schaaf-coached side earned a Champions League qualifying place by finishing third in the German league thanks to a strong finish to the season.
Bayern beat Bremen 3-2 in the league when the sides last met in January, with Robben’s free-kick winning the game, but the Dutchman says his side must be on their guard.
“That result counts for nothing now,” said Robben.
“Bremen didn’t lose in the league after that and set off on a great run.
“Werder are a good side with lots of attacking quality, players like Mesut Oezil, Claudio Pizarro, who I know from Chelsea, Marko Marin and so on.
“They were second top scorers in the league after us.
“I’m not sure we’re overwhelming favourites on Saturday, anything could happen, and it’ll be about form on the day. We’ll have to give it 100 percent.”
Between them, Bremen and Bayern have won eight of the last 12 German Cup titles and Robben says he expects to see the goals fly.
“I’d be really surprised if it ended 0-0. I’m sure there’ll be goals, and I’m also sure of this: if we keep a clean sheet, we’ll win.”
Saturday will be the highlight of Bremen’s season, but Bayern’s will come a week later in Madrid.
“It shouldn’t be a problem, as there’s a full week between matches,” said Robben.
“Come Saturday, we’ll be totally focused on Bremen.
“At this stage, Madrid might be somewhere in the back of our minds, but once we run out at the Olympic stadium, we’ll be thinking only of Bremen.
“We’ve shown often enough we’re capable of taking each game as it comes.”
Bayern have good reason to fear Bremen as their captain Torsten Frings said nothing pleases him more than beating his former club.
“There is nothing better than winning against Bayern,” said the ex-Germany midfielder.
“You only have to look at how much they have invested.”
Frings was only 22 the last time the two arch-rivals met in the German Cup final and was on the winning side as Bremen ran out 5-4 winners on penalties to claim their first title under Schaaf.
Bayern had already seen their dreams of winning the double crushed as they lost the Champions League final 2-1 to Manchester United in Barcelona a fortnight before.
And Frings says he hopes that will play in Bremen’s hands.
“Everyone is only talking about Bayern, nobody has us on their minds,” said Frings.
“It was also like that in 1999, the only question about the result was how many we would lose by.”
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