Berlin: Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal will be looking to restore order in the ranks of the German champions with a win at troubled Werder Bremen today as the Dutchman faces mounting criticism from his own club bosses.
Despite Bayern's steady climb up the table to fourth place following a bad start to the season, Van Gaal knows a Bundesliga title defence is all but impossible with a 14-point gap to leaders Borussia Dortmund.
The team's season, his second in charge, is far less convincing than last year when they won the domestic league and Cup double and reached the Champions League final.
Van Gaal has also been chastised by club boss Uli Hoeness for what he said was the coach's refusal to take on board other opinions and running the team as a one-man show.
Length of break
Days ago team manager Christian Nerlinger reprimanded the coach over comments regarding the length of Franck Ribery's injury break speaking as "Van Gaal's superior".
Bayern bosses also said they had wanted captain Mark van Bommel to stay after he signed for AC Milan this week blaming Van Gaal for his departure.
A 4-0 win over second-division Alemannia Aachen on Wednesday to grab a spot in the German Cup semi-finals on Wednesday helped lift some of the pressure.
"We have no injuries, Arjen Robben is fit after a flu and things look good for Bremen," Van Gaal told reporters after the Cup win.
However, he did voice some concern over his new first choice keeper Thomas Kraft who made one spectacular save but looked unsure on several occasions.
"I am not really satisfied with him. He was uncertain at some situations," Van Gaal said.
Bayern will most likely be without winger Ribery, who is nursing a minor muscle injury but Robben, who recently returned from a long injury break, looks to be back at his best.
