FC Bayern Munchen News

The Arsenal boss has suggested that Diego Simeone’s men can be the surprise package in the Champions League and thinks at least 10 teams could win it

Atletico Madrid can replicate Borussia Dortmund’s surprise run in the Champions League in 2013-14, according to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Jurgen Klopp’s men knocked out the likes of Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Madrid en route to a 1-0 final defeat at Wembley to Bayern Munich, earning no shortage of plaudits with their underdogs tag.

Atletico have started their European campaign this season with two wins to match their 100 per cent record of eight out of eight in La Liga and Wenger believes Atleti coach Diego Simeone can take the Rojiblancos far in this year’s tournament.

“Atletico Madrid can be one of the surprises of the Champions League,” Wenger told Eurosport. “They can repeat what was does last year by Borussia Dortmund.

“They’re a very good team with a lot of quality in every area of the pitch.

“They have many good players – especially Diego Costa who is a top predator and can score from any position.”

Wenger’s Gunners face BVB in Group F this year alongside Napoli and Marseille – one of the toughest draws – and he thinks that the quality of the competition is increasing, with 10 or more teams vying for the coveted trophy.

“In the past, during the first years of the Champions League, as coaches we only expected three or four teams to potentially win,” the Frenchman, 63, added.

“Now at least 10 teams can dream about victory in the main competition. Now, in October, it is literally impossible to say who is going to be the successors to Bayern.

“It was an impressive victory for Bayern against Manchester City. That game in particular I watched and studied and for me, Bayern are already the favourites in this competition. All other teams have got one goal: and that is to beat them and deny them. They are a team that can go on and win again.

The midfielder is thrilled to be on the brink of reaching 100 caps for his country but is determined to emulate his success at club level by winning the World Cup

Bastian Schweinsteiger admits the pressure to succeed with Germany is spurring the side on ahead of the World Cup next summer.

Victory against Republic of Ireland on Friday will seal Joachim Low’s side’s place in Brazil 2014, with many earmarking the Nationalelf as one of the pre-tournament favourites to lift the prize next summer.

Schweinsteiger, who is on the brink of reaching 100 caps for his side, is determined to end Germany’s 23-year wait for a title and believes his remarkable achievements with Bayern Munich will inspire him at international level.

“The expectations towards the German national team are much higher now compared to my debut year of 2004,” he told a press conference. “But that’s a good sign because it shows we’ve had some success lately. And it spurs you on, it is a challenge.

“You really take a lot out of that [the treble for Bayern last season]. Now you know how you can reach such success.”

Schweinsteiger is delighted to be back in the Germany set-up having missed their previous outings due to injury, but has warned that Republic of Ireland will pose a stern test on Friday.

“It feels perfect to be back. My body feels great, the injuries are behind me now,” said the midfielder.

“It’s not going to be easy. The Irish fight tirelessly for their home country, you don’t often see it to that extent. Football-wise they might not be as strong as Argentina or Spain, but their heart is in the right place and they always give everything.”

The 29-year-old will reach 100 caps for his country should he feature against the Boys In Green and Sweden next Tuesday, and while he admits it will be a special achievement, he is determined to add a trophy to his international legacy.

“Of course it’s something special,” he added. “One hundred international matches, that’s nothing you take for granted. But I do hope there will be a lot more – and hopefully some success.

“[Winning the World Cup] is my goal – and we can surely reach it some day.”

The Netherlands international didn’t feature at the BayArena on Saturday until the 71st minute but the winger insists he has no issue with Pep Guardiola

Arjen Robben has dismissed the suggestion that he was unhappy at being on the bench for Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

The Netherlands international, 29, explained that a minor injury was the reason behind his demotion and rejected claims that he was annoyed with coach Pep Guardiola for not introducing him before the 71st minute.

“Of course I would have liked to have come on earlier,” Robben told TZ. “But that’s normal.

“But I also had slight muscular discomfort during the final training session. That was also the reason why the coach put me on the bench.”

Toni Kroos put Bayern ahead against Leverkusen but the hosts equalised almost immediately through Sidney Sam.

In spite of the draw, the Bavarians still moved a point ahead of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga standings.

The former Borussia Dortmund coach has revealed that the Bayern Munich player had an overly critical attitude during his playing days

Ottmar Hitzfeld has admitted that Matthias Sammer is the most “annoying” player to have ever served under him.

The Switzerland boss worked with the legendary sweeper at Borussia Dortmund and reveals that he grew weary of the current Bayern Munich sporting director’s overly critical attitude.

“The hardest [player to coach] was easily Matthias Sammer,” Hitzfeld told Kicker. “Matthias had to complain after every victory, something I found a bit tiring and annoying.

“You cannot always list all the errors; otherwise you lose confidence.”

Hitzfeld also revealed that he initially intended to become a teacher before going into coaching, confessing that it was some time before he felt as if he had chosen the right vocation.

“Being a coach is a gypsy life and involves much risk,” the 64-year-old mused. “The first 10 years were marked by existential fears.”

Hitzfeld and Sammer won the Champions League together at Dortmund, in 1997.

The Bayern chief feels the 21-year-old playmaker should have been given more time to recover from injury ahead of being rushed back into international duty

Uli Hoeness has criticised Joachim Low’s decision to call up Mario Gotze for Germany’s qualifiers against Ireland and Sweden.

The Bayern Munich starlet suffered a twisted ankle in the Uefa Super Cup final win over Chelsea on August 30 and the Bavarian club’s president is adamant the injury-prone playmaker should have been given more time to recover instead of being immediately drafted back into the international fold.

“It would be better for all the parties involved if he trained for two weeks before being called up, then he would reach the necessary fitness level.” Hoeness told Kicker.

“However, that’s just my personal opinion; I won’t interfere with the decision.”

Germany, who top the table in their group C, need just one win out of the two upcoming fixtures in order to book their ticket for the World Cup in Brazil next year.