Guardiola says munich can still improve

Bayern Munich flew to Morocco on Saturday to begin its assault on the Club World Cup title with coach Pep Guardiola demanding improvements from the European champion - despite the Bavarian giant adding still more Bundesliga records to its already impressive tally.

A 3-1 win over Hamburg at Munich's Allianz Arena left Guardiola's side with a new record of 93 points for the calendar year and it remains unbeaten in the league in 2013.

Bayern bounced back from the 3-2 Champions League defeat at home to Manchester City with goals by Mario Mandzukic and Mario Goetze before Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri added the third deep into added time.

But Guardiola said the European champion has weaknesses to work on.

"Perhaps the players already had their holidays and Morocco in their heads," said Guardiola.

"We had problems in the second half, just like against Manchester. We lost the ball too easily.

"We have good players, but we have to cut those actions out.

"Now we're flying to Morocco to try to win our next title."

Four hours after the final whistle against Hamburg, Bayern jetted out of Munich with Guardiola looking to win the Club World Cup for the third time, having already lifted the title with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011.

No German side has ever won the trophy, but having become the first Bundesliga side to win the treble of league, cup and European titles last season, Bayern wants to add another piece of silverware to its 2013 haul.

"We want to get the last title we're lacking this season," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after the club broke or equaled 25 Bundesliga records last season.

- Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 12/16/2013 page23)