James Rodriguez feels ‘at home’ with Bayern Munich, says Jupp Heynckes before semi-final with Real Madrid

Rodriguez moved to Real Madrid in 2014 for £63m but after two seasons on the fringes he switched to Bayern Munich last summer on a two-year loan deal

James Rodriguez is expected to start against Real Madrid (Getty Images)

Jupp Heynckes has claimed loanee James Rodriguez feels “at home” in Munich, as the Colombian midfielder prepares to face his parent club Real Madrid in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg at the Allianz Arena.

Rodriguez moved to Real in 2014 for £63m and was handed the legendary No10 shirt at the Bernebeu, worn by Ferenc Puskas, Luis Figo and current manager Zinedine Zidane, but after two seasons on the fringes he switched to Bayern last summer on a two-year loan deal.

The 26-year-old established himself as an important player under Heynckes as Bayern retained the title this season, and is expected to start against Madrid as the club chase their sixth European Cup.

“He has developed wonderfully this year and has become a key player in this team,” Heynckes said ahead of the tie. “He has so much creativity and I get the impression he feels at home here in Munich now.”

Heynckes, who stepped in until the end of the season after Carlo Ancelotti’s sacking in September and will make way for new coach Niko Kovac in the summer, said he is relishing the chance to face the club he once managed and to pit his wits against Zidane, who has won the past two Champions Leagues.

“I’ve faced some fantastic coaches in my time, like Johan Cruyff and Marcello Lippi. I really like the way Real Madrid play football under Zinedine Zidane. It’s a wonderful privilege to have had success in my career and to reach the semi-finals, hopefully the final, against one of my old clubs Real Madrid. Millions of people round the world will watch this game with passion, emotion, joy and, perhaps, sorrow.”

Heynckes will be without the injured Arturo Vidal, and will wait and see whether the defender David Alaba and the midfielder Corentin Tolisso pass late fitness tests, as Bayern looks to gain revenge following defeat to Real in last year’s competition. The 72-year-old added that he believes the game will be an even contest.

Jupp Heynckes will step aside at the end of the season (Getty)

“In a semi-final with such teams with huge tradition in the Champions League there is no favourite. You can say that Real have won the last two titles in a row and maybe they have an advantage but we are in a really good state.

“We have won the Bundesliga, we are in the German Cup final, we are playing an outstanding season and we want to crown it with a spot in the final. But favourites? For me there are no favourites.”