Guardiola Tells Premier League That Gotze Is Not for Sale

Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola has told the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea that midfield star Mario Gotze will not be leaving Bavaria this summer.

According to the ​international media, Guardiola is very happy with the player's attitude despite the fact he's not been regularly involved in matches recently. The Premier League trio were hoping to take advantage of the situation, but the Spaniard wants to keep him.

He said: ​"He helped us a lot. He's a young player with a lot of talent.

"It is my decision that he hasn't played much in recent games. I am very happy with his attitude. There is no discussion as to whether he stays or not."

kämpfen und Siegen

Bayern beat Hertha Berlin 3-2 on Saturday as the treble winners came from behind to win at home for the second Bundesliga match in a row, but the fourth-placed visitors made a real contest of it in an entertaining encounter at the Allianz Arena. The heroes for Pep Guardiola’s side were the two Marios, Mandzukic and Götze, the first-half substitutes who scored the goals to seal FCB’s eighth league win of term.

Götze the key figure

“I’m really pleased for him,” declared Guardiola, “we need someone between the lines capable of playing an intelligent final ball.” Müller joined in the chorus of praise: “After Mario came on, we were more inventive. He opened up gaps in attack and laid on goals. He might have been the key figure.“ Müller himself brought up the final score with his second goal, a penalty eight minutes from time.

“But it was hard work,” summarised Robben, although Bayern ultimately recorded a seventh victory of the campaign and ensured they stay top of the standings. “Fortunately, a game lasts 90 minutes,” reflected Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. FCB are back in action again on Wednesday, when Czech champions Viktoria Plzen visit the Allianz Arena. “They won’t be coming here just to hand us the victory,” warned Robben, “we’ll have to be up for it from the start.”

Bayern Injury Update

Mario Götze, Javi Martínez, Thiago, Holger Badstuber and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have been watching Bayern’s latest games from the stands. They feel the ebb and flow of the play, and cheer on their team-mates, but none of the men on the injury roster is currently fit enough to play. All are working their way through sports rehabilitation programmes, aiming to resume squad training as soon as possible.

The most positive developments relate toMario Götze and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, as both are close to the end of sports rehab. The pair are currently working out individually with the ball, but if all goes according to plan, Götze and Hojbjerg should be able to join in parts of the squad workout in a couple of days. Götze turned an ankle in the Super Cup against Chelsea some three weeks ago, while Hojbjerg damaged ligaments while appearing for the reserves four weeks prior to that.

Javi Martínez will be out of action for a little while longer, as the Spaniard underwent surgery two and a half weeks ago to fix a persistent groin problem. Martínez is off crutches and has begun stamina-building running. “I’m feeling better with every passing day. I hope I can be back helping the team very soon,”

Dental surgery for Javi

Martinez is also working out in the performance centre on a series of stabilisation routines and strength-building exercises. No date has been set for the defensive specialist to resume the team programme, because this will depend on how quickly the affected groin recovers from the operation. Everything is going according to plan at the moment, although the player cannott train on Thursday and Friday due to dental surgery.

Javi’s fellow countryman Thiago, who underwent surgery on 26 August to repair an ankle injury, will wear a protective boot as planned for the next three weeks. The summer signing will commence his sports rehab programme after that. However, Thiago is still reporting daily to the Säbener Strasse facility, working on stabilisation and mobility with the club’s fitness coaches. He is also working out in the weights room, performing strengthening exercise aimed at rebuilding the muscles in his injured and uninjured legs.

Cruciate ligament victim Holger Badstuberis currently in the USA. The Germany international will undergo a last round of surgery on his damaged knee in the last week of September, before gradually taking up his sports rehab programme.