Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is eyeing a defence of last season's treble after the Bavarian giants won the Bundesliga title in record time.
Their 3-1 win at Hertha Berlin on Tuesday crowned Bayern as German champions for the 24th time with a record seven matches to spare as Guardiola claimed his third trophy in nine months since taking charge in Munich.
Bayern partied in the German capital until the early hours of Wednesday morning, but preparations for Saturday's league match at home to Hoffenheim and Tuesday's Champions League clash at Manchester United will start promptly on Thursday.
Bayern became Germany's first team to win the treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup titles last season under Guardiola's predecessor Jupp Heynckes and the Spaniard is eager to repeat the feat.
"What Jupp Heynckes did last year is unique in history and is very difficult to do, but we will try it, of course," said the 43-year-old Guardiola who won 14 of 19 titles in four seasons as Barcelona coach.
The Spaniard has already claimed three of a possible five titles this season with the Bundesliga, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup secured, but the German Cup and Champions League titles still up for grabs.
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had a more blunt appraisal with the goal being to win the Champions League final in Lisbon on May 24, the week after the German Cup final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on May 17.
"We aim to collect as many titles as possible," said Neuer, as Bayern host second-division Kaiserslautern in the German Cup semi-final on April 16.
"The important thing now is that we're successful in the other games this season, we want to go to Lisbon and come back to Berlin."
After Bayern broke or equalled 25 Bundesliga records last season, Guardiola has already claimed some of his own with more sure to follow before Bayern are officially handed the title on May 10.
His side claimed three records on Tuesday as they secured their 19th consecutive league win, extended their unbeaten Bundesliga run to 52 matches and claimed the title with seven matches left.
There will be no resting on laurels for the rest of the season even as captain Philipp Lahm posted a Bundesliga record of 134 completed passes during the Hertha game with an impressive 100 percent accuracy.
"We can always improve. In every game," said Guardiola.
"We must try and keep a high level over a longer period of time."
Guardiola's first domestic title at Bayern earned him praise from Germany head coach Joachim Loew, FIFA president Sepp Blatter and even Borussia Dortmund rival Jurgen Klopp, whose team lags 25 points behind in the table.
"To see you, we'd need a telescope as you're so far ahead," quipped Klopp.
Source: AFP
