Bayern coach challenges players

BAYERN Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has challenged his team to get their season back on track by beating Schalke this afternoon.The Bundesliga giants were stunned by Basel in their mid-week Uefa Champions League fixture. “We must all pull together in one direction,” said Heynckes after his players argued in Basle.Bayern were beaten 1-0 at FC Basle on Wednesday in the Champions League Round of 16 first-leg clash and face an uphill battle for the return at Munich’s Allianz Arena on March 13.The players were seen to argue after Basle scored their late goal with both Germany’s Thomas Mueller and Holger Badstuber blaming the other for not shutting down the move which led to Basle’s Valentin Stocker scoring the winner.Bayern have won just three of their last seven games and their goalless draw at Freiburg last Saturday saw them slip to third in the German league and are four points behind leaders Dortmund.Schalke are just a point behind them in fourth and Bayern need three points and a good performance from their star-studded team to calm a few nerves.Their season hinges on the next fortnight with the second-leg against Basle and the German Cup semifinal against Borussia Moenchengladbach on March 21.The tension has mounted as the idea dawns that inconceivably Bayern could end up without any silverware for a second season running.Directly after the final whistle in Basle, president Uli Hoeness stormed into the team’s changing room and shouting was heard, but Heynckes is sending out a calmer image.