Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has outlined his two main objectives for the season -- winning the Champions League title with Bayern Munich and then helping his country lift the Euro 2012 title.
Bayern open their Champions League campaign in Group A at Spain's Villarreal on Wednesday and Schweinsteiger says his aim is to be part of the team which wins the final at Munich's Allianz Arena on May 19 next year.
And the ambitious 27-year-old is also eyeing up the Euro 2012 title in the Kiev final on July 1 2012 with the national side.
"In 2012, I want to win the Champions League in Munich and then become champions of Europe in Poland and the Ukraine," Schweinsteiger told German daily Bild on Tuesday.
Germany have already qualified for Euro 2012 after winning all eight of their qualification matches so far and Joachim Loew's side are aiming to go one better than 2008 when they lost to Spain in the final in Vienna.
But while Schweinsteiger has lofty ambitions for both club and country, the Bayern vice-captain knows his club team face a long and arduous road if they are to reach the Champions League final.
"To have the final in our own stadium is not a burden for us," said Schweinsteiger.
"Everyone has this goal in mind, but everyone also knows that it will be a long and difficult path.
"My opinion is that we are stronger now than we have been for the last two years and that is why I say we are one of five or six favourites for the Champions League title."
Bayern last won the Champions League in 2001 and despite winning 7-0 in Saturday's German league match against Freiburg, Schweinsteiger says domestic form counts for nothing in Europe.
"We got a good start in the league, but we must not allow ourselves to be dazzled by the results," he said.
"In our group, Villarreal, Napoli and Manchester City will all be demanding and we have to be smart and pace ourselves with two games per week coming up."
Source: AFP
