Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer believes his team can overcome the challenge presented by Liverpool during the round of 16 stage of the Champions League.
The Bavarian giants have been pitted against the Reds for the first time in Europe since early 2000 and Neuer has backed them to prevail by taking advantage of the defensive vulnerability of Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Argentina international Paulo Dybala has dismissed the ongoing speculation linking him with Bayern Munich while stressing that he is content with the proceedings at Juventus. The forward had a tough beginning to the season which he was benched on a couple of occasions but he has managed to turn things around with an extended run of games where he has regularly commanded a starting berth.
Despite this, the speculation regarding his future has refused to cease but speaking to reporters, he has clarified that he has no desire to parting ways with the Bianconeri, he said: “It's not in my thoughts [when asked about the Bayern speculation]. I'm very happy to play for Juventus; we have big goals and I'm focused on those.”
Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac has said that the team need to improve on the decision-making after squandering the opportunity to secure another victory. Serge Gnabry’s 80th-minute strike appeared to have earned Bayern the three points against Freiburg last weekend but they were pegged back nine minutes later after a poor bit of judgement at the back allowed Lucas Holer to grab the equaliser.
With the stalemate, the reigning champions find themselves four points behind league leaders Borussia Dortmund and Kovac was certainly not pleased with the result after failing to shut up shop towards the end of the game, he told the club’s official website: “We got off to a good start, we were very flexible, moved well and let the ball do the work. We tried to attack down the wings, but it was difficult because they doubled up on us.
The outlook for German football doesn’t appear as good as it should right now. After a disappointing World Cup performance by the national team and further disappointment in the Nations League since then, they are no longer at the top of the international tree.
After winning the World Cup in 2014, many players retired from the national team and it was now time to blood new youngsters in, hoping that they would take the baton and keep Germany on top of the world. However, they have failed to do that, and the performance at the 2018 World Cup was a glaring reminder of just how much work the Germans have to do over the coming months and years.
It's still early days in the Bundesliga with just seven games played and there are still plenty more twists and turns to come before the German top flight concludes in May 2019, however the league is starting to take shape and, worryingly for Bayern Munich, they have four points to make up on current leaders Borussia Dortmund.
The Bavarians made a less than impressive start to the 2017-18 campaign but were a point better off heading into the second international break and their stuttering starts are beginning to be a cause for concern amongst Bayern fans.
Niko Kovac is more than capable of ending the alarming dip in form experienced by Bayern Munich, according to club president Uli Hoeness. Bayern Munich made a strong start to life under Kovac with multiple wins under their belt, but the team now happens to be without a win in the last four matches. The biggest worry for Bayern will be the heavy 3-0 loss suffered at home against Borussia Mönchengladbach, who have not experienced such a success against Bayern Munich in recent memory. Now, the team will have to try and recover from this disastrous run after the international break.
Bayern Munich have all to do immediately after the international break since they are away from home in four consecutive games across different competitions.Kovac has received the backing from Bayern Munich for the time being, asHoeness claims that the manager will be supported irrespective of the outcome in the next few weeks.Kovac came to Bayern Munich only in the summer and he has been seen as the future of the club after taking over from interim manager Jupp Heynckes. After having made a positive start to the campaign,Kovac has been struggling big-time in recent matches and the manner of the defeats has raised questions about the club.
Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribery has hinted that he could leave the Bavarian giants when the current season comes to a close. The 35-year-old has been with the German champions for the past 11 years where he has made almost 330 appearances but he could be up for a fresh challenge at the end of the current campaign.
Speaking exclusively to Bundesliga.com, Ribery indicated that he has yet to decide whether he would be prolong his Bayern stay beyond next summer but he has plans to continue playing for the next three years at the least, he said: “I’d be up for another season, but let’s wait and see how this season shapes up. I am relaxed and don’t put myself under pressure. You must assess your performances correctly. It’s too early to say now. At my age, you never know what’s next, but I would like to play until I am 38.”
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has stressed that the club have no plans of offloading Robert Lewandowski in the near future. Lewandowski’s representative Pini Zahavi recently claimed that his client could make way from the Allianz Arena but Hoeness has now ruled out the possibility of that happening.
Speaking to Sky Germany, Hoeness indicated that the club have always had the advantage in terms of the Lewandowski situation and they could have made as much as €150m from his proposed sale this summer. He said: “We always had control of Robert, but we didn't have any control of his agent. He [Zahavi] tried four or five times to get an appointment with [CEO] Karl-Heinz [Rummenigge], [sporting director] Hasan [Salihamidzic] and I, but we didn't give him one. I let him know that I only have time for him from 14:30 onwards on Sept. 2. If Robert Lewandowski can free himself of the large burden of his agent and fully concentrate on Bayern, he is the best new signing in the history of Bayern Munich. We could have taken a fee of up to €150m this summer.”
Former Everton and Sunderland manager David Moyes has urged Jordan Pickford to snub the ongoing speculation with Bayern Munich and concentrate on the Premier League season ahead. The 24-year-old became the youngest Englishman ever to keep a clean sheet during the recent World Cup and his efforts have caught the eye of the Bavarian giants.
Speaking to The Sun, Moyes has stressed that the Toffees are the right club for Pickford at the moment and he should earn further experience within Premier League surroundings before considering a move abroad, he said: “I think Everton is the right club for Jordan. It’s a big club, he’s only just moved and I would say to him it would be stupid to even consider another move if there was to be an option for him. I think it will help him being at Everton because he will get enough work and he’s got a chance to develop without every single thing he does being scrutinised. He is still young and he just needs to keep getting his games in. The last thing he needs to bother about is any speculation.”
Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovac has said that he is looking forward to looking alongside Robert Lewandowski next season. The Poland international has been heavily tipped for a Bayern Munich exit after recruiting PiniZahavi as his new representative but Kovac does not seem concerned by the ongoing speculation.
In a report covered by The Bild, Kovac revealed that he had a private phone chat with the Pole to discuss his plans for the upcoming campaign, he said: “I was on the phone with Lewandowski and told him my opinion. I’m looking forward to working with him. He’s a world-class striker who has achieved a lot at this club [and] in the future will continue to perform that way.”