Hitzfeld: We lacked hunger
02 May 2008 - 09:47:45
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- Hitzfeld: We lacked hunger
Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld accused his players of lacking hunger after they suffered a shock 4-0 UEFA Cup semi-final defeat to Zenit St Petersburg.
Bayern were favourites to win this year's tournament but produced a dismal performance in Russia to lose 5-1 on aggregate.
Afterwards, Hitzfeld blamed missed opportunities and suggested that domestic success this season had taken the edge off his players.
He said: "We had the chance in the first minute that we didn't take and then Zenit scored.
"Defeat is defeat, whether it be 1-0 or 4-0. As a professional sportsman you have to learn to cope with defeat.
"We won the cup recently and almost won the title at the weekend. It is possible that Zenit were hungrier than us.
"Zenit played the match of their lives and deserved to go through."