I Hate Bayern Munich

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.”

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.