Bayern are under pressure, admits Neuer
AFP, Tuesday 7 Feb 2012
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer admits Bayern Munich are under pressure to perform in Wednesday's German Cup quarter-final tie at VfB Stuttgart after losing top spot in the Bundesliga at the weekend


Bayern are chasing a semi-final berth in Stuttgart on Wednesday and Germany goalkeeper Neuer says his side have to get back to winning ways after their 1-1 draw in Hamburg on Saturday allowed Borussia Dortmund to go top of the table.

"We are under pressure and have a bit of making up to do," said Neuer, whose team have picked up just four points from their last three league games.

"We need to get the train back on track and get into the next round.

"We must not make any mistakes."

Coach Jupp Heynckes has said he will field a full-strength side at Stuttgart including stars Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger with Bayern chasing their 16th German Cup title.

"My team knows how things are, we have ambitions in the cup and want to progress, I am full of optimism," said Heynckes.

Stuttgart have a miserable record against Bayern in the cup, but their one victory over the Bavarians is special in German history for more than one reason.

In ten meetings between the teams, their only cup win against Munich was a 3-0 third round victory on November 9, 1989 - just hours before the Berlin Wall came down.

More recently Bayern have had the upper-hand having beaten Stuttgart 5-1 in 2008/09 and 6-3 in 2010/11.

With holders Schalke already out, the other quarter-final ties see fourth-division minnows Holstein Kiel hosting German champions Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Hoffenheim host second-division Greuther Fuerth and Hertha Berlin are home to Borussia Moenchengladbach - who put out holders Schalke 04 in the previous round - in the quarter-finals other all-Bundesliga clash.

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