Bayern Munich Shower Praises On Messi

[Folami David]

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes and sports director Matthias Sammer on Wednesday heaped praise on Barcelona star Lionel Messi in the run-up to the teams' Champions League semifinal tie.
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"With Messi one word is sufficient: phenomenon. He is in the same category as Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona, Pele," Heynckes said at a media day ahead of the games in Munich April 23 and Barcelona May 1.
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"It is out of this world to score 50 goals in a season," Heynckes added.
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Sammer named the four-times reigning world footballer "a genius, a fantastic player," but Bayern are nonetheless confident they can overcome Barca for a place in the May 25 final at Wembley against league rivals Borussia Dortmund or Real Madrid.
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Bayern have clinched a 23rd German title in record time and stormed into the German cup final with a 6-1 demolition of Wolfsburg Tuesday.
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"We have shown that we are a force, a great team," Heynckes said.