Mark Van Bommel Acknowledges That Bayern Munich Will Change Defense Against Manchester United Because Of Wayne Rooney
Dutchman confessed that the Englishman will be hard to handle
By Anthony Sciarrino
Mar 29, 2010 6:00:00 AM
Bayern Munich captain Mark van Bommel has admitted that they will have to change their defensive strategy in order to account for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney when the two teams meet in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.
With the Englishman having a phenomenal season the German giants will abandon their man-to-man defense in order to keep more than one defender on Rooney at all times.
Rooney has scored 33 times for the Red Devils in all competitions, including a brace in each leg against AC Milan in the round of 16, and van Bommel reveals that Bayern will change their defensive tactics to deal with the England international.
"It will not be easy to deal with Rooney because he is such a good player,” van Bommel told The Sun.
"We normally man-mark players like him but I don't think we can with him because he is too good.
"We will have to defend zonally so that more than one player can take care of him."
The Dutch international knows that his squad have a difficult task ahead of them with Manchester United coming into the Allianz Arena for Tuesday’s first leg.
"It will be a very difficult tie because United, along with Barcelona, are the favourites to win the Champions League.
"I also don't think it is an advantage for us to play the first game at home.
"But we played the first game at home against Fiorentina in the last round and we came through.
"If we draw 0-0 here and score in Manchester then we will have the advantage."
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