Saturday, October 18, 2014

Schweinsteiger on track to return in 2014, says Bayern Munich director Sammer

The midfielder has yet to play this season due to persistent injury problems but Bayern's sporting director says "relief is in sight"

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is on track to return to action in 2014, according to Matthias Sammer.

The 30-year-old has not made a competitive appearance since the World Cup due to a knee injury suffered during the pre-season tour of America.

However, Bayern sporting director Sammer says Schweinsteiger continues to make good progress in his rehabilitation and should feature before the end of the calendar year.

"There's no reason to say he cannot play more this year," he told Kicker.

"Of course it's possible Basti can come back in 2014, that's not at all unrealistic.

"The relief is in sight. He's made good progress."

Thiago Alcantara has also missed the season so far after damaging his medial ligament in March, though the Spain international returned to team training last month.

Sammer hopes to see him back in action soon but warned they would not rush his return.

"Slowly, slowly," he added when asked how the 23-year-old was progressing. "Now we have to integrate him, but we're looking at it carefully."

Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcantara Suffers Another Huge Injury Setback

MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 16:  Thiago Alcantara attends the FC Bayern Muenchen training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group E match against Manchester City at Allianz Arena on September 16, 2014 in Munich, Germany.  (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara is facing 'a lengthy absence' after tearing a ligament in his right knee.


The 23-year-old Spanish international has been out of action since March when he tore a ligament in a Bundesliga clash with Hoffenheim, but had to undergo surgery after a brief return in May. Having missed the World Cup in the summer, Thiago was on the comeback trail only to re-injure himself in training on Wednesday.


Bayern tweeted the news shortly afterwards, saying: "Devastating: @Thiago6 (23) has suffered a ligament tear in training. He needs an operation and is set for another lengthy absence."


Speaking on Bayern's official website, Thiago said: "What can I say? Of course, I am profoundly disappointed and desperate at the moment.


"Why always me? But I will not give up. I will fight again. I'm going to get close again and I will celebrate my comeback at Bayern."


Thiago played 20 times across all competitions for Bayern last season, but has yet to make an appearance for the German champions this season. However, Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer insists Bayern will stand by their young talent in his recuperation.


Sammer said: "We are all shocked and saddened by this re-injury. 


"Thiago was so close to his comeback after a long time out but he knows that the whole of FC Bayern is there for him. We will do everything to ensure that he is healthy again and can bring us a lot of titles."

Friday, October 17, 2014

Franz Beckenbauer Wants FIFA Corruption Report To Be Made Public

The former Fifa executive committee member says world football's governing body has no reason to hold onto the report unless it is trying to hide something. 

Former Fifa executive committee member Franz Beckenbauer has called for the report into 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids to be made public.

Fifa announced that Russia would hold the 2018 event, with Qatar to act as hosts four years later, back in 2010.

The decision was met with criticism in some quarters, and allegations of corruption within global football's governing body were made before Fifa's chief ethics investigator Michael Garcia subsequently led a probe into the matter.

After briefly being suspended from football-related activity for failing to co-operate with the report, West Germany legend Beckenbauer has since complied and has now called for further transparency.

The 69-year-old, who won the World Cup as a player in 1974 and then as coach in 1990, has also expressed his support for playing the 2022 event in winter, to avoid the searing temperatures in the summer months in Qatar.

"I think they will find an opportunity to find a good result," Beckenbauer said. "But if you ask me personally, for me it's no difference if the report is published or not, it's just my opinion as a spectator.

"If you don't have anything to hide you can just bare the report. If Fifa wants to publish this report they should do it, I can't find anything to be upset about.

"I won't say anything about the vote because it was secret; I will stick to the agreement that was made at this time, also my decision was made under these circumstances. I took part of it, that's right, and I was also surprised that Qatar won.

"Qatar's application was very good, like all others - there were no big differences. There were some reasons why USA, Australia, Korea or Japan were not chosen while Qatar was. You don't have to ask just me but my former colleagues.

"I was in Qatar sometimes and you can't play football in the summer there although they have some mechanics to cool down the stadium to play under pleasant temperature.

"Technically they could do it, but back there I asked myself if it's worth the energy. If you play in winter you don't need to cool down the stadium. The circumstances in winter are perfect. I would suggest to stage the World Cup in winter.

"All I know is that Garcia provided his report. Now the ethical review committee has to evaluate this one. I don't know when they will be ready. We have to wait how the committee will decide."

Oriol Romeu Not Afraid to Leave Chelsea If He Isn't Given First Team Chance

DORTMUND, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 24: Joseph-Claude Gyau (L) of Dortmund is challenged by Oriol Romeu of Stuttgart during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart at Signal Iduna Park on September 24, 2014 in Dortmund, Germany.  (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu has threatened to leave the club if he isn't given his chance in the Blues' first team, according to the Express.


The Spaniard is currently out on loan at Bundesliga club Stuttgart and spent last season on loan with Valencia, though Jose Mourinho is leaning towards including him in his plans next season according to the report.


Romeu would like to see this happen after his loan spell with Stuttgart ends, but insists he will not hesitate to leave Stamford Bridge permanently if he is not given his chance.


He said: "The Bundesliga is a good league to grow and to become a better player.


"We'll see what happens, but now I'm focused on the present and helping the team. I don't know what will happen in the next few years but I will never say no to staying in Stuttgart because they have treated me amazingly so far and I'm really happy here."


The Blues have a host of strong midfield players and have signed the likes of Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas in 2014, meaning competition for places will be very tough for Romeu. The 23-year-old is however hoping that he can do enough to seal his place in the Chelsea team next season.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Schalke Appoint Former Chelsea Manager Roberto Di Matteo As Jens Keller Replacement

TURIN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 20:  Head coach Roberto Di Matteo of Chelsea FC during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between Juventus and Chelsea FC at Juventus Arena on November 20, 2012 in Turin, Italy.  (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Bundesliga outfit Schalke have confirmed the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo as the club's new manager.


The 44-year-old Italian succeeds Jens Keller as the club's new coach after Schalke's inconsistent start to their Bundesliga and Champions League campaigns this season. Schalke have won only twice this season and are 11th in the league with eight points from their first seven games.


The inconsistency of the team has forced the club's board to enforce the decision to remove Keller from his duties, with former Chelsea manager Di Matteo swiftly brought in as his replacement. It is Di Matteo's first job since being sacked by Chelsea in 2012 - shortly after winning the Champions League - and he will face up to his former club in their group stage clash in November.


Schalke general manager Horst Heldt explained the change to the club's website on Tuesday morning, saying: "The achievements of the team in recent weeks repeatedly fluctuated. Also positive approaches such as the seven points of the 'English week' with the icing on the cake of Derby victory did not show any lasting effect.


"It [Keller's reign] lacks the necessary consistency to achieve our athletic goals. Therefore, we decided to make a cut.


"Nevertheless, we should not forget that Jens Keller has done a good job in the past 22 months. He has taken our team in December 2012 in a difficult situation after another out twice in the group stage of the Champions League, where each reached the knockout stages. Jens has helped other talents from our Knapp forge to jump in the Bundesliga. He deserves the thanks of FC Schalke 04."


Referring to Di Matteo, Heldt said: "With the coaching change we want to put a new impetus. We are firmly convinced that Roberto Di Matteo stabilized the team and manages to achieve our goals in the Bundesliga and the Champions League."


Di Matteo's first match in charge will be in the home game against Hertha Berlin on October 18th.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

THE INTEGRATION PRIZE FOR KLOSE - AN EULOGY BY CHANCELLOR MERKEL


World Cup winner Miroslav Klose was today (Thursday evening) honoured with the Integration Prize Goldene Victoria in Berlin. “Today you get another cup”, said Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel in her eulogy to Klose, who retired from international football after the World Cup in Brazil with 137 caps and finished as Germany’s all-time top scorer with 71international goals. “You have earned this not only due to your football, but also because you have shown how important it is to win as a team.”
“You’re a really popular figure and a wonderful role model in the world of football. Your life story really tells us something about our country”, said the Chancellor. “The national team, with whom you won the World Cup, is one of the best calling cards for our country.”

Klose: “This prize really means a lot to me”

Klose, 36, who came to Germany from his native Poland as an 8-year-old, said of the award: “It’s a real honour for me to receive this accolade. It means a lot to me. The national team is a perfect example of how well one can integrate.”
The prize was awarded by the German Foundation for Integration. (Deutschlandstiftung Integration), which was founded by the German Association of Publishers (Verband Deutscher Zeitschriftenverleger). 
It was set up to give equal opportunities to people with an immigrant background in Germany. The patroness of the foundation is Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel.