Bayern Munich vs Eintracht Frankfurt - Niko Kovac hopes to threaten Bayern Munich in bid

Posted Friday, April 01, 2016 by PA

Eintracht Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac says he will "not park the bus" at the Allianz Arena this weekend, as his side seek the points they need to move out of the Bundesliga relegation zone.

The former Bayern Munich defender faces his former club for the first time as a coach on Saturday, insisting his team will not be beaten before they even arrive in Munich.

"We don't want to set up camp inside our own penalty area and park the bus in front of the goal," he said at a press conference on Friday.

"We also want to put the Bayern goal in danger."

Nevertheless, he admitted that if they can come away with a point, to add to the one they gained in the reverse fixture earlier this season, they will be more than happy with their afternoon's work.

"The game starts at 0-0 and we've got to try to defend this point that we have at kick-off," he said, suggesting tiredness could come into it, and his side may garner an edge from that.

"Maybe it even plays into our hands that Bayern have already had lots of games this season," he added.

With such a large squad, that is nevertheless unlikely with Bayern coach Pep Guardiola again able to rotate his team ahead of the midweek Champions League quarter-final tie with Benfica.

That could allow Mario Gotze to make a rare start with Guardiola praising the Germany international for his performances during the winter break, and denying ever having any doubts over the World Cup winner's potential.

"Have I ever said a bad thing about him?" Guardiola said at his press conference on Friday. "I haven't because I've never had any reason to.

"He's one of the best professionals, there can be no doubt about it. He does everything to be fit and is 100% professional on and off the field.

"He's one of the best players I've ever met in my career. He's a good lad and I wish him the best.

"I've got a great, great deal of respect for Mario, for his career and for his future."

Gotze's place in Guardiola's team this Saturday is anything but certain, however, with the Catalan repeating how he has too many options to give anybody a guarantee.

"I know Mario, but [what he did for Germany] does not influence me for our next game," he said. "It doesn't alter my opinion of Mario.

"Mario can play in any system under the sun, and of course he can play for Bayern Munich, but often I have seven forwards and this is the way I want it."

He has one fewer this weekend, though, with Arjen Robben definitely ruled out with an injury which could also see him miss the home and away leg of Bayern's Champions League quarter-final.

"I don't know when he'll be back," Guardiola said. "I hope it will be soon, but that's a question for the doctors."

Medhi Benatia is also unavailable, leaving Joshua Kimmich likely to keep his place in the centre of the Bayern defence for a game which could see them open up an eight-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga once again.