Bayern will be even more dominant, says Magath

The controversial coach expects a one-sided Bundesliga season as he feels the title-holders are too strong for their closest rivals

Former Bayern Munich coach Felix Magath believes that the reigning Bundesliga champions will be even more dominant in 2013-14 than they were last season.

The Bavarians finished an impressive 25 points ahead of runners-up Borussia Dortmund last term on their way to an historic treble triumph and Magath thinks a similar scenario is on the cards in the new season due to Bayern’s strength in depth under Pep Guardiola.

“Anyone who looks at the current state of Bayern will realise that the race for the Bundesliga title will be far from tense,” Magath was quoted as saying on his official Facebook profile.

“Bayern have moved even further ahead of their rivals. You can hardly say they have any competition [for the league title].”

Bayern start the new Bundesliga season with a home game against Borussia Monchengladbach on August 10.

Magath coached FCB from 2004 until 2007, guiding them to two Bundesliga titles and as many DFB Pokals during his time at the club.

Beckenbauer looking forward to Guardiola reign

The Bayern Munich icon is eager to see how the former Barcelona boss innovates the German champions ahead of the start of the new season

Bayern Munich legend Franz Beckenbauer says that he is intrigued as to what Pep Guardiola does during his first season at the club.

The Spaniard moved to the Allianz Arena in the summer, replacing Jupp Heynckes, and the 67-year-old is looking forward to seeing how he goes about improving the German champions.

“I am interested in what he does and how he will try and bring his unique thoughts to the team and whether it will work or not,” Beckenbauer told AZ.

“He is a world class footballer and he will bring that expertise to any position on the pitch. I can imagine he has already begun to experiment with the image of the team as he imagines it. The way he behaves makes him a welcome addition, he is a popular figure.

“I do not know how the players perceive the hype surrounding Pep. It always used to be the players in the headlines, but you don’t even know who’s playing anymore just because Guardiola is always the one in the headlines.

“It will slowly begin to even back out, however. I wish him 10 great years at Bayern.”

Beckenbauer went on to say that he is impressed with the Bavarians’ squad ahead of the new season and admitted that Mario Gomez, who joined Fiorentina earlier this month, did not fit in with the new blueprint.

“Anything is possible when you have a squad with Thiago and Gotze. I don’t know him very well, but he played for Barcelona’s first team, so he cannot be bad.

“No one other than Gomez has gone until now. But he’s the type of player who doesn’t fit into the system of someone like Guardiola, who emphasises attacking play. So I am pleased with the signing of Thiago.

“We really have a surplus in the midfield, even without the Spaniard Thiago. Pep wants to increase the competition, but too much competition does not work.

“They must loan or sell Luiz Gustavo. He already said he does not see a future at Bayern, even though he is a regular for Brazil.”

Bayern stars must accept rotation – Sammer

The Bavarians’ sporting director says every player will get their chance under Pep Guardiola but that the days of the first XI are over

Matthias Sammer has warned Bayern Munich’s stars that they are no longer guaranteed a regular starting spot every week.

The Bavarians have added the likes of Thiago Alcantara and Mario Gotze to their ranks this summer and the Borussia Dortmund legend that competition for places will be fierce.

“The days of a starting XI are over,” he told Kicker.

“The large squad of 2012 was a response to the previous year. And everyone benefited as the result.

“Our coach will handle it in a way that everyone gets enough chances. But if an individual puts himself first he will find trouble.”

Pep Guardiola has taken over from Jupp Heynckes as trainer in the close season and Sammer says he has been impressed by the Spaniard’s methods.

“He is full of energy and full of ideas,” he continued.

“His changes are understandable, because it clearly conveys what he wants.”

Bayern’s first competitive fixture of the season is against Borussia Dortmund in the DFL Supercup on Saturday.

Thiago bids farewell to Barcelona in emotional open letter

The Spain Under-21 midfielder posted a note on his Twitter account in which he praised his former club and its fans, while he also had a message for former mentor Tito Vilanova

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara has bid goodbye to former club Barcelona in an open letter posted on Twitter.

The Spain international completed his move to the Bundesliga champions after turning down the chance to move to Manchester United, but he admitted that it was hard for him to leave Camp Nou.

“I leave the house that I spent 14 years at…it was a difficult decision, tough. Eras come to an end and there are changes now ahead,” he stated.

“Today I have the same enthusiasm for playing football as when I arrived at Barcelona as a child. And that ambition, enthusiasm and those sporting circumstances have led me to Munich.

“In Barcelona I grew as a player and as a person. It sounds clichéd, and it is what is said in these situations, but it is really the case. I want to thank each and every person at the club. Barca and the people there have given me everything, I have grown, matured and have learned from both good and bad situations.

“Team-mates, technical staff, employees, fans, above all, you, the fans…who are great for this club in victory and defeat. To all of you, thank you for the years. Thanks to those who supported me in the more difficult moments. All of the love I received I will take with me to this new adventure.”

The 22-year-old also had a message for Tito Vilanova, who stepped down as Barca manager on Friday to continue his fight against cancer.

“And you, Tito, a fighter…as we told Abi [Eric Abidal]: ‘Stones in the road? Keep them all, one day you will build a castle’. No doubt you will continue to move forward.

“A grateful hug and long live Barca!”

Thiago had earlier spoken to the press in Munich, refuting suggestions that he may suffer from a culture shock in his early days in Germany.

“On the contrary, things here are pretty similar to Barcelona,” he was quoted as saying by TZ.

“I had some amazing players around me right from the start at Barcelona and that’s the case here as well. That makes things very easy for a new and young player like me.”

'The question mark over his signing has already begun to fade' – Goal's World Player of the Week Thiago Alcantara

Hamburg
0-4 Bayern Munich
Borussia Monchengladbach 1-5 Bayern Munich


When Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola boldly went public with his desire to be reunited with former Barcelona protege Thiago Alcantara, he justified the seemingly superfluous addition to an already stellar midfield cast by declaring: “We have many players, but we need the special quality that he brings.”

There were still many sceptics. But probably not anymore; not after Thiago’s first two appearances for Bayern in last weekend’s Telekom Cup, as the Spain international oozed class during every second of his 98 minutes of action.

Thiago laid the foundations for a quite brilliant goal against Hamburg that even former Barcelona boss Guardiola couldn’t help but marvel at, the 22-year-old picking out a clever run from Franck Ribery with a wonderfully-measured ball into the area that the Frenchman deftly cushioned into the path of the supporting Mario Mandzukic, leaving the Croat with a tap-in.

And in the 5-1 demolition of Borussia Monchengladbach in the ‘Grand Final’, Thiago ingeniously chested home a cross from Jerome Boateng to net his first goal in a Roten shirt.

As Goal Germany‘s John Brandi underlines, the midfielder has already demonstrated just why Bayern moved so quickly to sign him, and why Manchester United are privately do disappointed at having been beaten to his signature.

“Thiago was the midfield anchor in a very attacking 4-1-4-1 formation against Hamburg,” he explained. “He was strong at winning the ball and showed his excellent passing skills.

“It was no surprise that he was one of the few players who were allowed to start again in the final and he capped another very strong performance with his first goal for the club.

“Consequently, the question mark over Thiago’s signing has already begun to fade.”

Congratulations to Thiago Alcantara, Goal’s 219th World Player of the Week winner!


The Shortlist

Leon Benko – HNK Rijeka

@DskHodgson: “Unbelievable night at Kantrida Stadium. Leon Benko – brilliant.”

Goal’s Enis Koylu: “The twice-capped Croatia forward scored three headers in HNK Rijeka’s Europa League rout of Prestatyn Town FC.”


Landon Donovan – USA

 @ONEWorldSports: “Donovan is a master of using that space between the CF and the wingers.”

Goal’s Dan Edwards: “Underlined his enduring importance to USA with a goal and three assists versus El Salvador.”

Aiden McGeady – S. Moscow

@rsport_en: “McGeady the star against Ural, scoring one and creating the second.”

Goal’s Tom Webber: “Showed why he’s being linked with a move to England by inspiring Spartak to a win that puts them top in Russia.”

Cristiano Ronaldo – R. Madrid

@Miguel Delaney:Bit of showmanship from Ronaldo after a handball, then tries to backheel ball into top corner from 20 yards. Close.”

Goal’s Paul Macdonald: “Lit up Madrid’s friendly against Bournemouth with two goals, the first a trademark free kick, the second a cool finish.”