Preview: Meeting Dortmund is like a final, says Hummels

By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Crossing swords with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening in the German Cup is only a last-16-round duel, but the 2013 treble winner Bayern Munich is preparing as if it were a final.

"No doubt, this is the biggest match in German football," Bayern defender Mats Hummels said, "It is a final like job."

After achieving 27 points out of 10 league games and qualifying for the knock-out stage of the 2017/2018 Champions League campaign, another important job for the Bavarian side in 2017 is the German Cup, and both Bayern and Hummels are aware of it as the 29-year-old Hummels said "we are facing one of the most challenging tasks this season."

While Bayern is regarded to be the big favorites in the Munich arena, beating Dortmund won't be a piece of cake after the Blacks and Yellow's found their way back to success. "The side improved a lot lately and regained stability. For us, that mean's having to invest all we can to proceed to the next round. I can tell you; we are fully motivated to add another chapter to a so far successful story," said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes.

According to Chilean striker Arturo Vidal, the 2017 German champion is aiming at all possible trophies this season. "To win them all is what we are working for. We still remember our deep disappointment after we were eliminated by Real Madrid last season. This time we are determined to do better, and we are in better shape," said Vidal.

Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic told German media his club is optimistic regarding the challenges of 2018 and proved to be at the same level as other European top clubs by beating Paris.

Bayern striker Thomas Mueller, the 2014 world champion, said his recently struggling side has turned into a "tight-knit community", and the team has found its way.

Despite the latest success, Bayern can't neglect a certain tension in advance of a game that is seen as the German classico. Bayern only won three of the last six German Cup duels against Dortmund, including a disastrous 5-2 defeat in the 2012 final.

This time Dortmund would benefit achieving a surprise, nothing else would a victory be as Bayern "is at a much higher level," Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc stated.

Despite Wednesday's explosive duel, both clubs are trying to add quality to their squads in the near winter break.

Borussia rumors said about a possible return of Armenian striker Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Manchester United. On top, the club is said to be in final negotiations with the Argentine side of Atletico Velez Sarsfield about 18-year-old striker Maximiliano Romero. Dortmund is supposed to pay up to 12 million Euro for the young striker to be prepared for a possible departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang next summer.

According to several media reports, Bayern is eying TSG Hoffenheim striker and German international Sandro Wagner as the Bavarian's need a backup solution to give their world-class striker Robert Lewandowski time to recover when facing a tight game schedule. Bayern is said to pay up to 15 million euro for the Munich born professional.

Regarding a new coach for the 2018/2019 season, Bayern said they would take all the time needed to find a satisfying solution as 72-year-old Jupp Heynckes announced to leave next summer and rejected an offer by Bayern president Uli Hoeness to stay for one more year.

Rumors speak about a possible Bayern interest in former Dortmund and current Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp. Enditem