Beckenbauer wary of Barca

Franz Beckenbauer says he would have preferred Bayern Munich be drawn against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-finals.

Instead the new German champions will take on Barcelona, a team Beckenbauer described as ‘the world’s best club side’, while Dortmund will play Real Madrid.

The Bavarians are the form side in Europe at the moment, having wrapped up their domestic title last weekend before completing a 4-0 aggregate demolition of Italian champions J
00004000
uventus in Turin on Wednesday.

However, Beckenbauer admitted he would have preferred to see Jupp Heynckes’ men avoid Barca in Friday’s draw for the final four of the Champions League.

“My first reaction was from a Bayern perspective, that this was not a ‘dream draw’,” he told Bild.

“I would have viewed Dortmund as an easier opponent than Barcelona, the world’s best club team.

“But my second reaction was: these are two super draws for German football.”

Beckenbauer, though, believes both Bundesliga representatives will find it tough against La Liga’s top two, even though Bayern were the most impressive performers in the quarter-finals.

“Our team has an incredible stability,” the legendary sweeper acknowledged. “We have a very good chance because of the form that we are in.

“But there is (Lionel) Messi, Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta, who were born (to play) for one another.”