Bayern Munich coach Juergen Klinsmann had plenty of reasons why he should be smiling broadly Wednesday after his side trounced Sporting Lisbon 5-0 in their first leg match in the round of the last 16 in the Champions League, dpa reported.
The former Germany coach had just seen his side set a new Champions League record with the highest-ever away score, but he immediately tried to downplay their achievement.
"Yes, I know we are practically in the next round and it would be a disgrace if we let it slip in Munich. It was a good game and wonderful to watch."
Klinsmann felt for his opponents. "They fell apart after going behind by two goals. They seemed really to have gone into the game with huge expectations and for a young side to then go behind is very damaging. They could not come back from that."
Klinsmann, whose side had a disastrous side to the second half of the Bundesliga and suffered a 2-1 home defeat to lowly Cologne on the weekend, said that it was important that they now look to consolidating their Bundesliga performance.
"I am hopeful that this has given the side a boost ahead of our next game in the Bundesliga on Sunday against Werder Bremen.
"I am confident that the players will not get carried away by this result. The team can be proud of their game in Lisbon, but we now need to concentrate on the Bundesliga."
Bayern is currently fourth in the standings, four points behind SV Hamburg.
"I think the team will have no problems with not letting this result go to their heads. All I need to do is to hang the Bundesliga table onto the wall and then the players will see where their focus should be.
"They have shown in the Champions League what is possible, but we need this from the players in the Bundesliga now."