Dons Will Be Hitz For Six So Our Boss Can Live The Dream Says Bayern Chief Uli Hoeness

Feb 10 2008 By Gavin Berry

Aberdeen V Bayern Munich Thursday, Kick-Off 6pm Live Bbc 2

BAYERN MUNICH supremo Uli Hoeness is determined to gun down Aberdeen and say goodbye to manager Ottmar Hitzfeld with a treble success.

The legendary gaffer will leave the Bundesliga giants in the summer to take over as Switzerland's national coach.

But general manager Hitzfeld has unfinished business with Bayern chasing glory on three fronts after a whopping £45million spending spree to get over what Hoeness describes as a "disaster" last season.

Bayern face a crunch top-of-the-table clash with Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga today and take on city rivals 1860 in the German Cup quarter-finals this month.

They also have a European tie to look forward to on Thursday against Aberdeen in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

Hitzfeld turns 59 on Tuesday but Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood will be looking to spoil his celebrations 48 hours later at Pittodrie in the first-leg clash.

However, Bayern legend Hoeness reckons his side can crush Aberdeen on the road to a glorious treble.

The three-time European Cup winner told MailSport: "It's always a dreamto win three cups but everything has to come together at the right time.

"We almost won three titles in 1999 whenwe lost the Champions League final to Manchester United who won a treble themselves that year.

"Ottmar is a great personality and a big character. He's one of the best managers ever along with Sir Alex Ferguson, Fabio Capello and Marcello Lippi.

"We are not happy to be in the UEFA Cup instead of the Champions League but that is our own fault because last season we didn't qualify.

"It's arrogant to say 'we will win the UEFA Cup' because there are other good teams.

"Last season was a disaster but we've bought a lot of players with a crazy amount of money.

"However, it's not possible to say after just six months that everything is perfect. The first few rounds of the UEFA Cup aren't so great but from here it's a big tournament with a lot of quality such as Aberdeen, Bordeaux and Anderlecht."

When MailSport arrived at Bayern's plush training ground last week Hitzfeld's amazing contribution to the club's history was plain to see.

Pictures of triumphs adorn the walls including eight of the major titles he has won during two spells as Bayern boss.

He could still add three more but the Dons are hoping to have something to say about that.

Hoeness was also general manager in 1983when Aberdeen defeated Bayern en route to lifting the European Cup Winners' Cup. His brother Dieter was a Bayern player at the time.

So Hoeness knows the Reds can't be underestimated.

Bayern scout Wolfgang Dremmler - a World Cup finalist with Germany in 1982 - is believed to have left Dons' Scottish Cup game against Hamilton at the interval last week.

But Hoeness played that down and said: "A technical crew are watching our opponents closely so the coach will have material on Aberdeen.

"I don't know if Wolfgang left at half-time but we haven't only watched one game.

"We look at teams a minimum of twice and maybe his departure was more to do with travel arrangements.

"We don't think it will be an easy game on the evidence of 45 minutes. Someone will watch Aberdeen's game with Celtic today and it's about piecing all the information together."

Bayern have also had some memorable clashes with the Old Firm in Europe and Hoeness is looking forward to another Scottish trip.

He said: "A few years ago we played Celtic and Rangers in the Champions League.

"A long time ago we played Aberdeen in the European Cup Winners' Cup but that's a tie we'd rather forget about.

"We were leading at Pittodrie only for them to come back and win. You never enjoy it when you lose a game but it was such a fantastic match. I remember the torrential rain and Aberdeen showed how strong they were.

"I'm excited about going to Scotland. I've been there a few times to play golf at Gleneagles and I enjoy Edinburgh.

"Then there are the famous players like Kenny Dalglish and Gordon Strachan whom I played against and met at various games.

"We spoke recently and Gordon asked if he could have one of our players Daniel van Buyten on loan. It wasn't possible but I can't tell him what the situation will be in six months."