I Hate Bayern Munich

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.”

Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has refused to speak about his club future ahead of Germany’s World Cup campaign. Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently confirmed that the 29-year-old could leave the Bavarian giants for the right price during the summer but Boateng has declined to speak on the topic ahead of the opening World Cup game against Mexico, he said: “We’re now with the national team and it’s time for the World Cup. That’s the topic for me. I don’t know why these statements were made, but they are not my business, and now I have said something about it.”

Obviously, no player would want any distraction ahead of the global tournament and Boateng, for now, has maintained his focus on the national team, who are defending their title. Unlike in recent years, the reigning champions come into the tournament on the back of two friendly defeats in the past three games but Joachim Loew should hopefully have the backline sorted out with Boateng having recently recovered from his thigh muscle strain.

Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes has confirmed that Manuel Neuer won’t start in the DFB-Pokal final against Eintracht Frankfurt this weekend. The Germany international has been on the sidelines with a foot injury since September and it appears that he won’t play any part in the club’s final game of the campaign.

Speaking to reporters, Heynckes confirmed Neuer’s availability for the Cup final, but he is not expected to risk the leading shot-stopper with the World Cup on the horizon, he said: “Manu has no complaints at all - he has taken part in a full training session and I am very pleased with how he is. He is in fantastic physical shape and he is in the squad, an option, but he will not play from the start. Manu has a presence, an authority in goal, he cannot be compared to anyone. The nation can be reassured, he will be a great option at the World Cup.”

Bayern Munich shot-stopper Sven Ulreich issued an apology to the club’s supporters via social media after his goalkeeping blunder hampered his side’s chances of making the Champions League final. The German had done a credible job playing second fiddle to Manuel Neuer but he was unfortunately the villain on the night at the Bernabeu.

The Bavarian giants had held Los Blancos to a 1-1 scoreline at the interval but following the break, a moment of madness allowed the hosts to regain the advantage. Ulreich had gone to catch a backpass from his teammate Corentin Tolisso but shortly after realising his mistake, he had a mistimed kick which allowed Karim Benzema to score in front of an open goal.

Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes has dismissed the possibility of Real Madrid pursuing the signature of Robert Lewandowski at the end of the season. The Poland international has been heavily linked with a move to the European champions, but Heynckes has stressed that the club have no interest in sanctioning the striker’s sale. Speaking after the Borussia Dortmund game, he said: “Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has already made this perfectly clear: Real Madrid has absolutely no chance of acquiring Robert Lewandowski.”

Meanwhile, the veteran head coach was coy on the futures of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben despite their existing deals due to expire at the end of the season, he added:"I have my opinion on Ribery and Robben, but I will hold back here with my recommendations. The club will know what they are and will decide in due course."

Bordeaux winger Malcom had admitted that he dreams of plying his trade for Bayern Munich in the future. The Brazilian footballer is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in French football, and he has been tipped to leave Bordeaux at the end of the current campaign.

In an interview, Malcom was quizzed about the opportunity to join the Bavarian giants at a future date, and the winger could not hide his ambition. He said: “Bayern is one of the biggest clubs in the world and it would be a dream to play there one day. It makes me happy that they are thinking about me. I will keep working hard to improve and, who knows, a transfer to Munich might become reality soon.”

Bayern Munich came crashing out of the Champions League in the semi-final against Real Madrid, and it has now been five years since the German giants won the ultimate tournament. The Spanish side, on the other hand, have won three of the last four competitions. Now, Zinedine Zidane’s men are looking to be the first side in over forty years to win a hat-trick of European tournaments in succession.

The last side to win the paramount European competition three seasons in a row was Bayern Munich in the 1975-76 campaign. Prior to that, the feat had only been achieved by Los Blancos, who won the inaugural European Cup and the four tournaments that followed. Jupp Heynckes and his charges have now given Real the perfect opportunity to atone for a slightly underwhelming campaign and retain their European crown.