Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller has joked that he wants to knock Manchester United out of the Champions League to avenge the agony of 1999.
Muller, 34, joined the youth academy of the Bundesliga giants just a year after United scored twice in injury-time in the Nou Camp to famously break Bayern hearts and become European champions.
Now the striker, who is set to leave the club when his contract runs out at the end of the season, has mischievously set his sights on denying Erik ten Hag the victory he needs to have any hope of guiding United into the knock-out stages.
Muller, who is hoping to be named in Thomas Tuchel’s team with Bayern already heading into the last 16, said: “We still have a very special away game ahead of us in the Champions League. It is always a special match against Man United at Old Trafford.
"As a child, Man United played a special role for me - especially after the dramatic Champions League final in 1999. Every Bayern fan will remember that painfully for the rest of their lives.
“It was after that game I decided to move to Bayern in 2000 to get things straightened out – just kidding! United were the best football team in England for decades, with national and international titles.
“For me they have always been one of the really big clubs in Europe. But they have been chasing this claim for some time now - and for a football romantic like me, this is difficult to digest.”
Bayern beat United 3-2 in the opening group game - and the Old Trafford club have continued to struggle. The Reds need to beat Bayern and hope that Copenhagen’s clash with Galatasaray in Denmark is drawn.
United would be denied the consolation of a place in the Europa League if they lose. Muller, who has played more games for Bayern than any other outfield player, wants a third Champions League medal to go with his 12 Bundesliga titles.
He admits he is stunned by United’s decade of underachievement since Sir Alex Ferguson retired - but warned the 13-time Premier League champions’ fall from grace is a warning to every club that nothing lasts forever.
Muller, writing in his monthly newsletter, said: “I think the Man United case shows how difficult it is in professional sport to be permanently at the top and to virtually guarantee success.
“Even for clubs that are prepared to spend a huge amount of money, this is not a sure-fire success. To be at the top in Europe, the overall package of squad, coach, environment, club culture is all part of it.
“Past successes are of little use to us in the next game. It means pushing your limits again and delivering a great performance. So I'm looking forward to the game at Old Trafford. We will end the Champions League year with a clean performance - and the heroic deeds then take place in the spring.”
The bad news for United is that Tuchel is unlikely to field a vastly weakened team after Galatasaray coach Okan Burak blasted the German champions for not going for victory in a goalless home draw with Copenhagen that kept the Danish club second in the group.
“For the first time, Bayern rotated and didn’t look like they wanted to win the game,” said Burak. His criticism has been dismissed as mind games in Bavaria, but Tuchel knows he must go to Manchester to win if he is to maintain the integrity of the competition.
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