Manchester: Arjen Robben has revealed his delighted at Bayern Munich’s fight-back to knock Manchester United out of the Champions League.
The Red Devils went 3-0 up after an early Darron Gibson strike was followed up by a brace from Nani, but Ivica Olic scored on the stroke of half-time to bring the Germans back into the game.
Robben then scored a superb left-footed volley from the edge of the area to equalise on aggregate and send Louis van Gaal’s side through on away goals, setting up a semi-final tie with Olympique Lyonnais.
The Dutchman admitted he thought Bayern would be in for a "difficult evening" once they went three goals down but was pleased with his their comeback.
"When we were behind 3-0 I thought it was going to be a very difficult evening," Robben told German TV.
"But 3-0 was the same as 2-0. We had to score a goal.
"The goal from Olic gave us faith that we could still advance. We have to be honest. They were the better team at the start, with the atmosphere."
Robben was delighted with is decisive goal, and revealed he had planned the move with provider Franck Ribery.
"I saw that Franck saw me at the corner," he said.
"I knew the ball would come across to me. I tried to stay calm. You can use force or technique. I tried to use technique. It worked out."
Robben's influence for Bayern has drawn tentative comparisons between he and Barcelona star Lionel Messi, but the former PSV Eindhoven man is having none of it.
"Messi is in a different world. He is the best player in this football-world, without any doubt," he said.
The ex-Real Madrid wideman - who was ousted last summer as part of Florentino Perez's Galactic cleansing of the squad - now his gaze set firmly on a final berth at the Bernabeu.
He added: "A friend is sending me a short message: You know the way to Madrid."
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