Title Race back in our Hands, Beams Bayern Boss
Bayern Munich's director of sport Christian Nerlinger insisted the German league title race is back in their hands.
Bayern's 1-0 win at Nuremberg on Saturday was enough to trim Borussia Dortmund's lead down to just three points after the defending champions drew 4-4 at home to VfB Stuttgart on Friday night.
With six games to go, Bayern are back in the hunt and the title could well be decided by Munich's visit to Dortmund on April 11.
Dutch winger Arjen Robben scored the winning goal in the 69th minute as Bayern kept up their pursuit of a treble of Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League titles.
"The summary of the weekend is that it's all back in our own hands, in all three competitions," said Nerlinger. "I have great faith in this team.
"They're showing they can cope with a match every three days and that they're physically in great shape. I'm looking forward to the run-in."
A factor which could count against Bayern is their continued involvement in the Champions League as they host Marseille on Tuesday with a 2-0 lead from the first-leg of their quarter-final.
A place in the last four beckons, but Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is returning to fitness after damaging ankle ligaments, is backing the Bavarians to find the extra energy to overhaul Dortmund in the league.
"We're playing every three days, so winning was all that mattered," he said.
"We're not concerned with what Dortmund do, we're just aiming to win our matches.
"At the moment, there's total desire in the team, and all credit for that. We obviously want to win the title, but first of all we have to make the most of our good going in position in the Champions League on Tuesday thanks to the 2-0 victory in Marseille.
"I'm not 100 percent fit yet, but every minute I play is good."
Munich's Allianz Arena hosts this year's Champions League final on May 19 and with Bayern facing Dortmund in the German Cup final on May 12, the Bavarians have potentially a busy few weeks ahead.
"We've said all along we have to win all our matches, and that remains the case," said match-winner Arjen Robben.
"It's not easy when you have so many games because you run low on energy.
"You have to be smart and fight against it. It was a very important win."
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp was disappointed his side failed to hold a late lead as they were floored by a 92nd minute equalizer in the eight-goal frenzy in the draw with Stuttgart on Friday.
Ex-Germany striker Christian Gentner scored Stuttgart's equalizer in a dramatic finish which saw the lead change three times in the last 20 minutes.
Dortmund wasted a two-goal lead early on as three quick goals from Stuttgart saw the visitors turn the score around, and Klopp was irritated with his side's basic mistakes having blown a 4-3 lead in the dying seconds.
"There were one or two situations that we have never seen before," said Klopp.
"We had (defenders) Neven Subotic and Mats Hummels both going for the same header (which led to Stuttgart's fourth goal).
"I cannot respond, because something like that has never happened before."
Source: Agence France Presse
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