With this year’s UEFA Champions League final to be held at Munich’s Allianz Arena, Bayern captain, Manuel Neuer said on Monday his side were fully focused on the highly rated competition this season.

“Something big is coming,” Neuer told reporters ahead of today’s opening clash with Dinamo Zagreb at home.

“The most important thing is the final in Munich. We want to go there and everything else is secondary. We know what this final means to the city, the fans and the players. Our motivation is simply very high.”

Six-time European champions Bayern come into the season after their first trophyless campaign in 11 seasons, with Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen winning a league and cup double.

In the Champions League, Bayern were eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual winners Real Madrid, who beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley to lift the trophy.

Neuer and fellow Bayern veteran Thomas Mueller, who both won the 2013 and 2020 Champions League finals, are the only two players in the squad to remember the 2012 home final, which they lost on penalties to Premier League side Chelsea.

Mueller went on social media on Monday, telling followers “the road to Munich starts tomorrow. “I’m very excited. Let’s enjoy the best football in Europe.”

Manager Vincent Kompany, set to coach his first match in the Champions League, told reporters “the fans can dream”.

“The most important thing for me is that we show it on the pitch. We have a difficult game tomorrow. The important thing is that we play well and win tomorrow.”

Bayern have won every one of their Champions League openers since 2002 when they lost 3-2 to Deportivo La Coruna, which was the prelude to their first and only group stage elimination.

Meanwhile Bayern Munich must do their best to replace injured defender Sacha Boey in their Champions League opener against Dinamo Zagreb, coach Kompany said.

The French right back underwent meniscus surgery in his left knee after being injured in training on Sunday and will be sidelined for several weeks, the club said. “We have our thoughts of how to replace Sacha tomorrow and we have solutions.”

Liverpool coach, Arne Slot admits “something is wrong” with his team after they lost at home to Nottingham Forest but refuted claims the defeat was down to his lack of rotation.

The Reds won their first three games of the Premier League season without conceding a goal but Callum Hudson-Odoi’s strike was enough to claim all three points for Forest at Anfield on Saturday.

Slot takes his Liverpool side to Milan on Tuesday for their first Champions League game of the season and hopes to put right the “wrong” of the defeat to Forest against a very different proposition.

Speaking to reporters at his pre-match press conference, Slot said: “Not only the journalists were disappointed about the result from us against Nottingham Forest, the team and me were really disappointed. Although we always put it in the right perspective when we beat United, the journalists and us were really positive. Of course, we also saw things we have to improve.

“Last Saturday, we didn’t do many things good as we did against United but there were still a few things that went quite well. But it was a total different game and that’s also for tomorrow, I expected a complete different game against Milan. The type of players they have and the playing style of their manager compared to Nottingham Forest.

“But we should be disappointed if we lose a home game against Nottingham Forest. You play for Liverpool and if you are not disappointed, if you drop points in a home game against Nottingham Forest then something is wrong. Four games nine points, it’s a good start but not a great start because then we would have had 12.”

Slot has made just one change to his starting lineup across the first four games of the new Premier League season, with Ibrahima Konate replacing Jarell Quansah at half-time in the opening game and keeping his place in the team from then on.

As the Reds prepare to start their Champions League campaign, Dutch centre back, Virgil van Dijk, has urged his club Liverpool to hit back after their “unacceptable” defeat against Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Just days after their shock 1-0 loss to Forest in the Premier League, Arne Slot’s side begin the new Champions League format with a trip to AC Milan today.

After winning the first three games of the Slot era, Liverpool were brought down to earth with a bump by Forest at Anfield on Saturday.

Liverpool captain Van Dijk wants the defeat to serve as fuel to beat Milan and quickly get their campaign back on track.

“We have a very good group that really understand that it was unacceptable and are disappointed,” the Dutch centre-back said.

“We all know everyone can do better and we have to show that on Tuesday and that is what we focus on.

“We have been through losses and difficult moments together and I think we have to stay calm and we will stay calm. Hopefully if there are no injuries happening then rhythm is always a good thing.

“We need the whole squad and we know after the international break it will be a game every three days so we need everyone in their best shape and best form.”

Liverpool had looked impressive in their wins against Ipswich, Brentford and Manchester United.

They managed to avoid conceding a goal in any of those games, before Forest forward Callum Hudson-Odoi finally breached Van Dijk’s defence at the weekend.

Asked what they had to do to prevent the defeat impacting their early-season momentum, Van Dijk said: “Keep going and keep working and make sure the performances don’t go in that direction.

“We all know how the atmosphere can change but that is also part of the influence from outside which could affect you.

“I can’t wait to be out there hearing the Champions League tune and leading out the boys.

“A club like Liverpool needs to be in the Champions League and we are finally back and let’s go out there and put in a much better performance as it is needed otherwise you are going to have an issue.”