Robben: No plans for Bayern to party at Mainz

Winger Arjen Robben says Bayern Munich have no plans to celebrate at Mainz 05 on Saturday, even if they are confirmed champions with a record eight Bundesliga matches to spare. Bayern hold a massive 23-point lead in the Bundesliga and will be confirmed champions if they win at fifth-placed Mainz 05 and both rivals Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 lose on Saturday. No Bundesliga side has ever been crowned champions as early as March and Bayern are set to beat their own record, set last season, of winning the title with six matches to spare. Bayern are unbeaten in their last 50 Bundesliga matches, dating back to October 2012, and have won all of their last 17 league matches. But with Bayern having reached the German Cup semi-finals and the last eight of the Champions League, Robben insists the Bavarian giants have other priorities other than celebrating in Mainz if results go their way. "The party won't last long, we still have too many games ahead of us," said Robben in Thursday's press conference. "This week has been reasonably quiet, but it won't last. We have a game every two or three days coming up and the focus is on the Champions League." Bayern are eager to become the first team to defend the Champions League title having won last May's final 2-1 against German rivals Dortmund to become European champions for the fifth time. Robben has said Bayern will not be travelling to Mainz expecting to win the title as they need both Dortmund and Schalke to either lose or draw against mid-table Hanover 96 and bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig respectively. "I'm not assuming we'll do it as early as Saturday and it's the same feeling in the team," said Robben. "I don't expect both Dortmund and Schalke will lose or draw." Even if results do not go Bayern's way on Saturday, Pep Guardiola's side can still be confirmed league champions on Tuesday in their Bundesliga match at Hertha Berlin. "We will be champions, but exactly when is secondary," said Bayern's attacking midfielder Toni Kroos. It has long been just a matter of time before Bayern are confirmed German champions for the 24th time. But Robben says they need to keep winning to maintain their form for the Champions League with Bayern also bidding to become the first team to go through an entire Bundesliga season unbeaten. "We need to maintain the pace and rhythm to prepare us well for Europe," said the Dutch winger. Meanwhile, captain Philipp Lahm has said Bayern's best season is yet to come with a host of their own Bundesliga records set to be broken this season. "We had a super year in 2013 and I think it won't be our best," the 30-year-old told the Muenchner Merkur newspaper. "It's nice to know that when we produce our top performance, we are extremely difficult to beat. "We have each game in our own hands and with the confidence of last year's success that makes us a tick stronger. "That can make a big difference when we meet teams who are at the same level as us." Source: AFP