Coach Felix Magath celebrated Bayern Munich's qualification to the UEFA Champions League knockout stage despite the team's dismal performance in the goalless draw against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. "No one thought we'd be through after four games when the draw was made," Magath said in the post-game press conference in Munich. "We have to be very pleased with that." The draw secured Bayern's place at the top of their Group B on 10 points, four ahead of second place Inter Milan who beat Spartak Moscow also on Tuesday. Magath was forced to field second-string players in midfield in the absence of injured key players like Mark van Bommel, Owen Hargreaves and Bastian Schweinsteiger. "You could see the negative effect the absences in midfield had," said Magath. "We didn't have our usual security and it was out worst display so far."
But while Magath admitted to Bayern's bad performance, he hailed the team's perfect defensive record. "It was not a good performance but we kept a clean sheet once again," he said. Magath, who guided the Bavarian giants to the Bundesliga title last season, insisted his team won't be slowing down. "It still looks very good in terms of finishing as group winners," he said. "We have that final home match in hand but there's no reason now why we shouldn't go and win in Moscow to make sure."
