Van Gaal accuses winners Bayern of arrogance

Printer Friendly

Share

Text Size

MUNICH, Germany, Feb 7, 2010 (AFP) - Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal accused his side of being "arrogant" as the German giants beat VfL Wolfsburg 3-1 on Saturday to draw level with Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen.

The win over Wolves was Bayern's eighth consecutive league victory and has put them level on 45 points with Leverkusen, who drew 1-1 at Bochum, and only goal difference has stopped Munich finishing the weekend top.

Goals by Dutch winger Arjen Robben and Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten, as well as an own goal from Wolfsburg, put Bayern in control before Wolves' striker Grafite scored a late consolation goal.

But van Gaal slammed his side for being too complacent against the defending league champions.

"I'm very angry - we were arrogant," said van Gaal.

"And if we're going to be arrogant, we have to put together great moves and we didn't.

"We lacked concentration, but we have to concentrate all the time and not start playing arrogant football after going a goal or two up.

"It's obviously a good result for us.

"We started extremely well, but after going 2-0 up we lost concentration and allowed Wolfsburg too many chances and I don't think we played good football."

And Robben, who scored for the third time in consecutive matches, agreed with his compatriot that Bayern won at the defending champions without playing a high standard of football.

"We didn't play particularly well, Wolfsburg had too many chances in the first half," said Robben.

"We were short on concentration, although it can happen, we're only human.

"Despite it all, we were 2-0 up at half-time, and I think winning 3-1 away to Wolfsburg has to go down as a good performance."

While Bayern will face Fiorentina in the last 16 of the Champions League later this month, Wolfsburg are out of European football's most lucrative competition and sacked coach Armin Veh two weeks ago.

The defeat to Bayern was their third league defeat in four games and caretaker coach Lorenz-Guenther Koestner has seen his side drop to 12th in the table.

"I always had a feeling we were going to struggle today," he said.

"Scoring an own goal and missing a penalty was symptomatic of our problems.

"Bayern's superiority really hurt my team."