Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm has issued an ominous statement of intent to the club's European rivals by claiming that the team wish to replicate their success of 2013 once again next year.
Lahm skippered the Bavarian giants to an unprecedented treble under former coach Jupp Heynckes last season, and with the German club boasting a seven-point advantage at the summit of the Bundesliga under current boss Pep Guardiola, coupled with a place in the last-16 of the Champions League, the 30-year-old believes that another memorable campaign is not beyond the realms of possibility.
Speaking to reporters after the 3-1 victory over Hamburg in the league on Saturday, the defender said: "We have many years of hard work behind us, and we've earned our reward in 2013, but we're not done for the year yet.
"We'll give the Club World Cup our very best shot, and we intend to have another successful year in 2014."
Marcello Lippi's Guangzhou Evergrande await Bayern in the semi-final of the Club World Cup on December 21.
Shane Callaghan
