Damir Skomina had just blown the whistle, giving way for the conclusion of FC Bayern Munich’s aggregate 7 – 0 semifinal victory over FC Barcelona and ticket to the UEFA Champions League 2012/2013 final; when it occurred. Yes, joy and satisfaction did run through my veins but what predominated most was a sense of focused calm.

I long have been a FC Bayern Munich fan and in the last couple of years, me as every other FC Bayern Munich fan, have had to endure gut-wrenching and demoralizing defeats, especially losing out to FC Chelsea in last season’s Champions League Final – adding insult to injury being lost in penalties in our own Allianz Arena.

But this has not stopped me being a supportive fan, which can be resembled in the fighting spirit and determination that has pushed FC Bayern Munich’s 2012/2013 season to a remarkable one – breaking and setting new records in the Bundesliga and across Europe. Such remarkable season could only be worthily crowned in one way, and one way only, to lift the Champions League trophy.

The opposing rival in this year’s Champions League 2012/2013 final is no other than Borussia Dortmund, a Bundesliga rival who in the last two seasons have outplayed FC Bayern Munich in several occasions – managing to win the Bundesliga title twice and a obtaining a heavy DFB Pokal Final victory. This provided to be a turning point for FC Bayern Munich and this season has so far been the result of it all.

Therefore, the crowning jewel for this season will be no easy task to achieve. Even though FC Bayern Munich has been able to achieve good results this current season against Borussia Dortmund it does not make them any less of a threat than what they’ve been in the last couple of years. It will be foolish and self-destructive to walk into a misplaced sense of over-superiority against a side who has achieved an enormous feat (reaching the Champions League final).

Nevertheless, it cannot be overlooked that the current FC Bayern Munich’s squad is boasting with incredible talent and depth, which has allowed FC Bayern Munich to take the Bundesliga by storm and discard every other European opponent that has been encountered in the European stage. The conclusion of the season could become the stepping stone for a new football era.

With no intention of undermining the opposing finalist, it is in FC Bayern Munich’s final to lose. The mistakes made in the past have been corrected and it is now for the players to award themselves with the glorification they deserve, the title they have all missed out on. All the sweat and tears they’ve had to shed and all the pain and sacrifices they’ve had to endure must be remembered – not to give in into neither fear nor panic, but to fire up and fight with all their heart to grasp what has been always so close, yet so far away.

(René is a fan of Bayern München and a member of BayernZone forum)

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