Felix Magath praises the ‘incredible’ Harry Kane but believes Maurizio Sarri and Thomas Tuchel won’t need their Chelsea experience in their upcoming Champions League meeting between Lazio and Bayern Munich.
The Biancocelesti have been paired with one of the toughest opponents in the Champions League Round of 16 as they will meet Kane’s Bayern Munich in the knock-out phase.
“It is surely a tough task, but nothing is impossible in football,” former German coach Magath told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“All games must be played; there is always a chance, even if Bayern are clearly the favourite. There are no secrets to stop them. There are key players such as Harry Kane and Leroy Saneé, just to mention the most in-form currently. The English striker is incredible; he arrived last summer, and he’s been scoring continuously. There are other players such as Jamal Musiala, Kingsley Coman and others in the group. Bayern are complete, even in goal where Manuel Neuer seems on the same level as before the injury.”
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Lazio will rely on Ciro Immobile who however, has only scored seven goals in 22 appearances across all competitions this season.
“I remember Ciro from his time at Borussia Dortmund, and he is still a strong striker,” said Magath.
Lazio-Bayern will also be a meeting between former Chelsea coaches Sarri and Tuchel, but Magath believes the pitch will do the talking.
“They are excellent coaches who won European cups during their time at Chelsea, but results are determined by the players, and I say this as a coach,” he admitted.
“The Bundesliga resumes in February after the break, so Tuchel’s team will be more rested. Last season, too many players paid a high price for the World Cup. They never stopped playing.”
The 70-year-old concluded by saying that Lazio must “go beyond their limits” to beat Bayern Munich and progress to the Champions League quarter-finals.
The first leg will be played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on February 14, 2024, while the decider is scheduled for March 5, 2024, at the Allianz Arena in Munich.