Salzburg coach reveals:

Only one band is above the Champions League anthem

Pep Lijnders loves the Champions League anthem. But one band even more.(Bild: GEPA)

He has heard the Champions League anthem countless times with Liverpool FC. On Wednesday evening, Pep Lijnders will play it for the first time as Salzburg coach when they face Dynamo Kiev in Lublin. A song that, for the Dutchman, can only be topped by one particular band.

"Ils sont les meilleurs.
They are the best.
These are the champions."

These are lines with a goosebump factor. But not just for soccer fans. The sound of the Champions League anthem also sends shivers down the spine of players and coaches. "After the band Coldplay, it's my favorite song," says Salzburg coach Pepijn Lijnders, expressing his enthusiasm for the anthem of the world's biggest club competition.

His central defender Kamil Piatkowski agrees with him when it comes to its meaning. For the 24-year-old, the match in Lublin is a return to his native Poland. How many friends and family members have announced their attendance? "I'm sure half the stadium will be full," jokes Piatkowski. 

Will the anthem become a catchy tune?
Despite the good mood, the kicker, like his coach, is focusing on the game. "We've prepared well for it. That's what counts most for us." After all, the anthem of the premier class should also ring out for Salzburg in the group stage. With eight group games, you could almost get an earworm. Including goosebumps, of course.