Van Gaal praises Gomez confidence

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal paid tribute to striker Mario Gomez’s improved confidence as he prepares his team for Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico here.

Bayern come into the match already qualified for the knock-out stages and needing only a draw to ensure they win the group having won four out of four so far.

They could even afford to lose the game by a single goal or by two if they score and they would still guarantee top spot.

Roma on the other hand could clinch their place in the second round if they win and the other game between FC Basel and CFR Cluj ends in a stalemate.

And although Bayern have been hit by a series of injuries and suspensions depriving them of Mark van Bommel, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Arjen Robben, Miroslav Klose, Holger Badstuber and Ivica Olic, van Gaal is banking on hot-shot Gomez continuing his recent streak in front of goal.

The Germany international has bagged eight goals in his last six league outings.

“The most important thing is that Gomez has found his self-confidence and every goal he scores demonstrates this. And of course he’s been getting better recently,” said van Gaal.

Gomez himself believes there hasn’t been a huge difference in his form since last season while also praising his team-mates for putting the ball on a plate for him.

“Last year at this point I had scored just as many as I’ve scored this season,” he insisted.

“And then the injury I had at Fiorentina affected my season. But if I’ve scored a lot recently it’s because I’ve had some great passes from my team-mates.”

With four wins out of four so far in the group, Bayern have already qualified for the second round and need only one more point to ensure they top Group E.

But Gomez has warned his team-mates against aiming for a draw.

“We must play a perfect game because Roma are a very good team with some excellent individuals,” he said.

“We’ll try to get at least one point but playing for a draw can be dangerous.

“Roma will probably play like all Italian teams, staying deep and trying to hit us on the counter.

“(Roma captain Francesco) Totti may have said they will play with a high tempo but that doesn’t mean they will all charge forward, it means they will play with aggression.

“It’s very important for them to try to get to the next round.”

Van Gaal agrees with his forward that Roma are likely to keep things tight, as they did when the two sides met in Munich in September, where Bayern ran out 2-0 winners.

“I don’t think they will play differently to the way they did in Munich,” he said.

“They will play with the same tactics but maybe with different players who will play better.

“But I’m happy they’re doing well because I like (Roma coach Claudio) Ranieri.”

Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said his side are focussed on securing top spot in the group to facilitate their passage in the knock-out stages.

“We’ve got a perfect record with four wins from four and we’re in the second round but we want more, we want at least a point tomorrow because we want to win the group,” he said.

“The advantage of winning the group is that you play the away leg first in the second round and you also avoid the favourites.

“We want to get that first place as soon as possible, which is why we want to do it tomorrow.

“It’s true that we’ll have another chance against Basel, and it’s true that it will be hard as we’ve got many injuries.”