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Ribery haunted by UCL defeat

27 July 2012-PA Sport

Bayern Munich forward Franck Ribery says he will 'never forget' last season's UEFA Champions League final defeat to Chelsea as he looks to win some silverware this season.

Bayern ended last year empty-handed, missing out on the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal to Borussia Dortmund and then losing to the Blues inside its own Allianz Arena.

"That was brutal, it was too much for my head," Ribery said. "Never in our lives should we have lost that game.

"We played great, had lots of possession and chances and we were 1-0 up with just a few minutes remaining.

"Then we conceded the equaliser, Robben missed a penalty in extra-time and then we have that penalty shoot-out.

"I will never forget that for as long as I live."

The defeats to Dortmund were equally painful and Ribery wants to start by redressing that issue in the German Super Cup on 12 August.

"We can no longer afford to lose to them," he told the Bild newspaper. "We are completely under pressure.

"The Super Cup in a few weeks is our first real test and we have got to send out a signal and beat Dortmund.

"The Champions League remains our dream, but for the whole club, it is important that we win the league."

Bayern is currently preparing for the 2012-2013 season with a tour of China and, after beating Beijing Guoan 6-0, it defeated Bundesliga rival Wolfsburg 2-1 with Mario Mandzukic and Arjen Robben on target.

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