Champions League - Toni: Bayern not good enough

Eurosport - Wed, 16 Jul 16:47:00 2008

Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni has admitted he does not think the Bundesliga giants have what it takes to mount a challenge for next season's Champions League.

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 UEFA Cup Zenit-Bayern Toni - 0

The Italy international will finally make his debut in Europe's top club competition after Bayern completed a league and cup double last season.

But the 31-year-old harbours real reservations about Bayern's ability to compete with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona - at least not with the Bavarians' current squad.

He told Munich-based newspaper tz: "In order to win the Champions League you of course need luck.

"But you also have to be honest and say that on paper there are stronger teams than us.

"I believe if you want to be at the head of the top competitions, you need 15, 16 top players in all areas. We have to be well equipped in all positions, with really strong players."

Toni has never played in the Champions League, despite having helped fire his former club Fiorentina to a fourth-place finish in Serie A during the 2005-06 season.

The former Palermo ace was robbed of playing in the competition after sanctions were brought against the Viola following their involvement in the Calciopoli scandal.

And the wait to take his bow in the competition continued after a disappointing season for Bayern two years ago meant Toni had to make do with playing the UEFA Cup last season - his first with the German outfit.

But Bayern's recent title triumph has handed Toni the chance to shine when his side enter this season's tournament at the group stage, scheduled to begin mid-September.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 9 of 9

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  1. Bayern is dreaming about champion league.they must invest money in players.if u want to be among the top.bayern never buy world class players.only 25million euro they spent last season buying ribery they were making noise everywhere that they have invested much.May be they shuold go and ask MAN UNITED;REAL M;BARCA and others how much they invested.

    From afam_steve, on Wed 23 Jul 2:02PM

  2. bayern sucks they could never win unless they had better half- backs and defenders like riquelme and segio ramos.

    From Joey, on Tue 22 Jul 9:50AM

  3. bayern doesnt have enough quality midfielder. Go For Van der Vaart or riquelme!

    From sheffwed_yeh86, on Sun 20 Jul 7:26AM

  4. i think bayer hav a great chance cos barca r rubbish at the moment

    From Sam, on Sat 19 Jul 10:28AM

  5. ar ye stupid bayern have unreal players such as klose podolski ribery.of course the have chance in winning the champions league

    From mateusz090, on Sat 19 Jul 1:30AM

  6. TONI IS EXTREMELY RIGHT. THEY NEED SOME GREAT PLAYERS TO STRENGHTEN THERE TEAM.

    From angelsmart11, on Fri 18 Jul 10:37AM

  7. no way bayern r neva goin 2 reach chelsea or barcelonas level unless they buy a realy gd player like kaka or robinho

    From lynsherif, on Thu 17 Jul 7:52PM

  8. haha

    From ben4utd, on Thu 17 Jul 7:41PM

  9. yes Toni is exermely righ.Bayern need great players profile before they can be able to even dream reaching the champion's league quarter finals.they need to sell Poldoskey and buy great players who are available such as Gomes and Riquelme , or Ronaldino and Berbatov, or Ibrahimovich and robinho. Please take this serious.

    From elvanzo2000, on Thu 17 Jul 6:58PM
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