Messi And Barca

Guardiola to join Bayern next season

Guardiola to join Bayern next season

Pep Guardiola will return to football with Bayern Munich this summer after signing a three-year contract.

The German giants announced on Wednesday they had won the race for the coveted 41-year-old, who had been linked with a host of Europe's top clubs including Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Guardiola on Tuesday revealed his desire to one day coach in England, but the Spaniard's next destination will be the Bundesliga after penning a deal which ties him to the Allianz Arena until June 2016.

He will replace current Bayern boss Jupp Heynckes in the summer, with the 67-year-old deciding to retire when his contract expires on June 30.

Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "Pep Guardiola is one of the most successful coaches in the world and we are sure that he can make not just Bayern, but all of German football shine."

AC Milan and Paris St Germain had also been reportedly interested in Guardiola, who is on a year-long sabbatical from the game since bringing the curtain down on his record-breaking four-year stint with Barcelona last summer.

Chelsea have been repeatedly linked with the man Blues owner Roman Abramovich is reputed to admire greatly, but Guardiola will no longer be an option when interim manager Rafael Benitez's stint in charge finishes at the end of the season.

Bayern will be hoping Guardiola can repeat the incredible success he enjoyed at the Nou Camp, both as a player and as a coach.

After coming up through the youth ranks, the classy midfielder went on to captain the senior Barcelona side and during 11 seasons in the first team of his home city club he made 472 appearances.

He also helped Barcelona win a host of trophies, including their first European Cup title, six league crowns, the European Cup Winners' Cup, and two Copa del Reys.

After leaving Barcelona in 2001, Guardiola played for Italian sides Brescia and Roma and also had stints in Qatar and Mexico before hanging up his boots in November 2006.

He was named as the coach of Barcelona B in 2007, but spent only a year at the helm before being promoted to replace Frank Rijkaard, who left in the summer of 2008 after going two years without a trophy win.

Under Guardiola, Barca established themselves as the dominant force in club football, with many rating the team as the best in history.

Boasting the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, Barcelona won 14 trophies, comprising two Champions League crowns, three Primera Division trophies, two Copa del Reys, three Supercopas, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups, during Guardiola's tenure.

That made Guardiola the most successful coach in the club's history before he opted to step down when his contract ran out last summer in order to take a break from the game.

The retiring Heynckes also boast an impressive CV and is on course to leave Bayern as Bundesliga champions, with the team currently nine points clear at the summit. They are also in the last 16 of the Champions League and the quarter-finals of the DFB Pokal.

Heynckes is in his third spell at Bayern and returned to the club in June 2011.

Although he failed to prevent Borussia Dortmund winning their second successive Bundesliga title last season, he did guide Bayern to the Champions League final in May, when his charges were defeated by Chelsea on penalties in front of their home fans in Munich.

Heynckes first led Bayern from 1987 to 1991, claiming Bundesliga titles in 1989 and 1990, and returned on an interim basis in April 2009 to guide them into the Champions League qualification spots following the sacking of Jurgen Klinsmann.

Heynckes told Bayern prior to Christmas that he was not looking to extend his contract with the club beyond this summer.

Bayern Munich chairman Uli Hoeness said: "We are extremely grateful to Jupp Heynckes for all his work, Following his decision, we would be delighted if the team was to give this coaching great the glorious farewell he deserves.

"As a worthy successor to Jupp Heynckes, only a coach of Pep Guardiola's calibre comes into question."

Guardiola's agent Josep Maria Orobitg said the deal to go to Bayern had been signed before Christmas.

He also said the offer from Bayern was not the most lucrative they had received, but was the one that appealed most to Guardiola.

"He signed before Christmas. I don't know exactly which day, around the 20th or the second half of December," Orobitg told EFE Radio.

"He chose Bayern because of all the teams from which he had offers it was the best.

"We were looking over the offers and this isn't the team which offered the most money. It was chosen for the organisation there, for the potential that he sees, and for their players."

Regarding interest from elsewhere and the constant speculation surrounding Guardiola's next step, Orobitg added: "There were contacts with clubs which were close, others which were put on hold until a decision was taken.

"There have been things coming out from all sides that there had been offers, real meetings, false meetings, trips which didn't exist.

"From Christmas he had to choose his future. All this has been signed for some time. I didn't know that they were going to announce it this afternoon. In fact they informed me at 12 that it was coming out in a statement."

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Fergie: United not a one-man team

Fergie: United not a one-man team

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Manchester United are not a one-man team.

Even last night's laboured display against West Ham fuelled a feeling Robin van Persie is a player United cannot afford to be without if they are to realise their silverware ambitions this term given the striker was granted a rare rest.

With 21 goals to his name already - and 10 in his past 10 appearances, the 29-year-old has made a phenomenal start to life at Old Trafford following his £24million move from Arsenal.

The Dutchman has earned warm praise from his new boss, who is not just delighted by the contribution Van Persie has made on the field, but also the example he has set with his professionalism off it.

However, Ferguson is anxious not to increase the belief that without Van Persie, United are a shadow of themselves.

"I don't go along with the idea we have become a one-man team," Ferguson told United Review.

"There was a time in our history when one man did carry us for a while. Eric Cantona kept us in contention with his goals when a few others were off the boil.

"But things are quite different now.

"Javier Hernandez has weighed in with 12 goals while Wayne Rooney is currently on nine.

"Two defenders, Johnny Evans and Patrice Evra, have chipped in with eight between them so it doesn't stand up to see us as a one-man band overly dependent on Van Persie, brilliant as he has been at both making and taking goals."

Yet Ferguson can hardly deny Roberto Mancini's claim that Van Persie is presently making the difference in this season's title battle.

"He is absolutely relishing his new challenge," he said.

"He is the right player, at the right club, at the right time.

"He has a winning mentality, but as he points out, it is one that goes right through the squad and one that will hopefully see us push on in both league and the cups and successfully navigate what is a busy and challenging period."

Barcelona held by 10-man Malaga

Barcelona held by 10-man Malaga

Lionel Messi was on target again on Wednesday but Barcelona had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to 10-man Malaga in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final.

Manuel Iturra capitalised on sloppy Barca defending to give the visitors a surprise lead after 25 minutes at the Nou Camp, before two goals in as many minutes saw the holders swiftly forge ahead.

Messi, who picked up his fourth straight Ballon d'Or award earlier this month after netting a record 91 goals in 2012, equalised in the 28th minute thanks to an enterprising run down the right and a neat left-footed finish.

Captain Carles Puyol notched a second goal less than 90 seconds later, somehow twisting his neck enough to direct a looping header past Carlos Kameni.

However, Malaga refused to lie down and Ignacio Camacho's slick half-volley got them back on level terms a minute from time - despite having lost substitute Nacho Monreal to a 75th-minute red card for a shove in the back of Pedro Rodriguez.

Also on Wednesday, Real Zaragoza and Sevilla battled out a goalless draw at La Romareda to ensure there will be all to play for in next week's second leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Real Madrid defeated Valencia 2-0 in the first leg of the first Copa quarter-final at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night, while Atletico Madrid and Real Betis kick off the fourth last-eight tie at the Vicente Calderon on Thursday.

Suarez admits to diving against Stoke

Suarez admits to diving against Stoke

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has admitted deliberately going to ground in a bid to win a penalty against Stoke earlier this season.

However, he insisted the criticism he received for his controversial recent goal against Mansfield was unjust, and also accused the press of using his name to sell newspapers.

Not for the first time during his stint in England, Suarez came under fire after going down theatrically in the penalty area during October's goalless Barclays Premier League draw at home to Stoke.

Although no spot-kick was given, Potters boss Tony Pulis called the Uruguay forward "an embarrassment" after the match. Jim Boyce, Britain's representative on FIFA, later described Suarez's dive as "nothing less than cheating", adding that simulation was a "cancer" in the game.

Suarez has now admitted "falling" in an attempt to win a penalty, telling Fox Sports Argentina: "Football is like that. Sometimes you do things on the field that later you think 'why the hell did I do that?'

"I was accused of falling inside the box in a match, and it's true I did it that time, because we were drawing against Stoke at home and we needed anything to win it.

"But after that everybody jumped out to talk - the Stoke coach, and the Everton coach... I understood that the name Suarez sells (papers)."

Suarez was back in the spotlight recently following his handball in the build-up to his winning goal against Mansfield in the FA Cup third round.

There were questions as to whether the 25-year-old handled the ball deliberately or if it was accidental.

He said: "The other day a ball hit my hand with no intention at all, and everybody criticised me because I kissed my wrist. Suarez sells.

"That's why they also talk about Suarez having a chat in secret with (Sebastian) Coates in front of (Steven) Gerrard. They make up anything. Everybody should do what they have to do, to talk about football and not anything else."

Suarez also believes foreign players are treated differently in England.

He said: "It's tough. As Carlitos (Carlos Tevez) and Kun (Sergio Aguero) said, the foreigners, and even more the South Americans, receive different treatment than the local ones.

"It's a cultural thing. They have different behaviours. What we have to do is play football, do what we know, what we've always desired. We fought to be here, and suffered a lot to be here. We shouldn't listen to any nonsense they say now."

Wenger: Wilshere can do it all

Wenger: Wilshere can do it all

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed Jack Wilshere as the "complete midfielder" after the England man fired the Gunners to a 1-0 win over Swansea in the FA Cup.

The 21-year-old - out for almost 18 months with ankle and knee injuries before returning to action this season - capped a man-of-the-match display to finally beat inspired Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm with a 20-yard strike on 86 minutes to set up a trip to Brighton and keep alive hopes of Arsenal's first trophy since 2005.

The Gunners were much improved from the lacklustre 2-0 Barclays Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, and but for a combination of poor finishing and brilliant defending would have had Wednesday's replay wrapped up well before Wilshere's fine late effort.

"Jack was outstanding tonight [Wednesday]," Wenger said. "He played in a different position, a bit higher up and it suited him well. I didn't expect him to be this good at this stage.

"I always thought that if we could get Jack back to a reasonable level by January we will have done well, but he is ahead of what I could imagine.

"He is back to what he was before the injury, I think so, yes.

"A complete midfielder can defend and attack and Jack can also dribble and give a final ball so the closer players like him are to the goal the better it is for them.

"He has quality and enthusiasm and a love for the game, which is the most important thing for me."

With France striker Olivier Giroud returned to the starting line-up and England forward Theo Walcott switched back to the right flank, Arsenal opened up full of the kind of movement which had been lacking against City.

However, until Wilshere's goal the finishing was lacking or Arsenal were foiled by brave Swansea defending.

"It was unbelievable that we couldn't score but we got it in the end. We persevered and we were rewarded," Wenger added.

"Overall we gave a good performance and it is important that we develop like that as a team. We were dangerous everywhere."

Walcott saw several goalbound efforts blocked and also should have been given a penalty when nudged over by Chico in the second half before shooting wide.

Wenger hopes a contract extension with Walcott can be pushed through sooner rather than later and maintains that is his focus rather than delving into the January transfer market.

"Let's first try to finish the deal with Walcott," he said. "I hope it will be soon, very, very soon now. I cannot tell you much more."

Wenger insists Arsenal must continue to battle on all fronts, as they prepare to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge at the weekend before a Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich next month.

He added: "I wouldn't like to think the Premier League is less important now, we have to fight to get back into a better position.

"If we were about to play the final it would be our best chance of a trophy, but we have just won one round.

"We go to Brighton next and we will play with full power, but for us there was more at stake than just the FA Cup, it was to win again after we lost such a big game on Sunday.

"We have to try to stay in as many competitions as possible."

All is not lost this season for Swansea either, with Michael Laudrup's men looking to reach the Capital One Cup final at Wembley as well as consolidate their place in the Premier League.

Wednesday's tie could have been different had a first-half header from former Gunner Kyle Bartley gone in off the bar rather than bouncing away.

"We tried, we defended well, at times heroic," said Laudrup, who made six changes to his side and started with leading scorer Michu on the bench.

"They had two or three chances where you say 'It's only a matter of time when they score'.

"If they score a few minutes from the end you think it could have gone into extra-time, but they deserved the win in the end.

"I want to win every game and the players want to, but it's not possible for anyone. It's not a question of saying it doesn't matter and I am disappointed."

Saints spoil Blues party with comeback

Saints spoil Blues party with comeback

Southampton came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Chelsea and make them go six points behind second-placed Manchester City on Wednesday night.

Chelsea suffered another case of the Stamford Bridge stutters as they threw away a two-goal lead to Southampton.

Demba Ba, with his 14th Barclays Premier League strike of the season, and Eden Hazard had put Chelsea in firm control and they seemed to be cruising to a first home victory since before Christmas.

But Rickie Lambert pulled Southampton back into the game with a header three minutes after being sent on and Jason Puncheon then equalised with a brilliant volley.

Since their 8-0 rout of Aston Villa on December 23, Chelsea have lost at home to QPR and Swansea and now drawn with the relegation-battling Saints.

There had been no audible boos of Rafael Benitez before kick-off, perhaps because he chose to start with Ba ahead of Fernando Torres and with Frank Lampard in midfield.

But hours after Pep Guardiola announced he was taking charge of Bayern Munich, the dissent towards Benitez on the final whistle was clear.

The point for Southampton, unexpected given they were thumped 5-1 by Chelsea in the FA Cup just 11 days ago, lifts them three points above the relegation zone and they have the best goal difference in the bottom six.

In addition to starting with Ba and Lampard, Benitez brought Oscar and Gary Cahill into the side that beat Stoke 4-0.

Southampton also featured two changes, with Guly do Prado and Steven Davies coming into a five-man midfield and the Saints initially proved hard for Chelsea to break down.

There were some nice touches from the Blues but they lacked any real penetration, with Oscar shooting wide after a neat build-up from Hazard, Ba and Juan Mata.

Ramires released Ba in the wide right channel and his cross took three deflections before going behind for a corner, with Artur Boruc panicking the ball might sneak inside his post.

Chelsea began to find their rhythm but another promising build-up, started by a break from Hazard, ended with Cesar Azpilicueta shanking his shot high and wide.

Southampton engineered a chance for Jason Puncheon, who rose above Ashley Cole but he only managed a soft header back across goal before Chelsea took a grip on the game.

Almost inevitably, Lampard played a key role and Ba, who had marked his Chelsea debut with two goals in the FA Cup tie, finished.

The Chelsea captain beat Luke Shaw as he jinked his way into the box before laying the ball back for Azpilicueta to curl the cross in.

Oscar and Jos Hooiveld both went for the header and the ball deflected up for Ba, who executed an acrobatic volley to beat Boruc yet again.

Chelsea survived a scare when Jay Rodriguez pulled a long-ball out of the air with a delightful first touch and teed up Davies, who side-footed his shot wide from the edge of the box.

That scare jolted Chelsea into action. Some intricate one-touch football released Hazard down the left but Lampard saw his shot blocked before he fired wide after being teed up Mata.

Ba then headed back to Lampard, who lifted the ball into the box towards Hazard and Oscar, who got in a muddle but still forced Boruc to tip it round the post for a corner.

And when Southampton made a hash of clearing their lines, Chelsea pounced for the second. Ramires rifled a shot off the post but Hazard followed up to drill a left-footed shot past Boruc.

The second half started in stalemate. Southampton may have feared a repeat of their FA Cup drubbing and were keeping things tight and Chelsea were comfortable in the lead.

But the onus was on the visitors and manager Nigel Adkins threw on Lambert for Rodriguez after 55 minutes. Three minutes later he had scored.

Nathaniel Clyne escaped the attentions of Hazard down the right and swung in a deep cross for Lambert, who found space between three Chelsea defenders to head past Petr Cech for his 10th league goal of the season. No Englishman has scored more.

Chelsea suddenly looked a bit nervous at the back. The Blues had chances to wrap up the game but Ba rifled a spectacular volley over the top and Lampard curled a free-kick wide.

And then, with 15 minutes remaining, Southampton equalised.

Luke Shaw charged 50 yards down the left and pulled the cross back for Puncheon, who teed the ball up with his first touch and powered a volley past Cech with his second.

Chelsea sent Torres on for Lampard to a chorus of boos. The Spaniard rifled one good chance wide and then lofted a cross straight behind for a goal-kick.

The crowd's reaction to him was echoed by their reaction to Benitez. All is not well at Chelsea.

Barca stars hail Guardiola move

Barca stars hail Guardiola move

Pep Guardiola's decision to return to management with Bayern Munich this summer has received the thumbs up from his former club Barcelona.

Guardiola, currently on a year-long sabbatical after leaving Barca last summer, looked to have his pick of some of Europe's biggest clubs with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, AC Milan, Roma and Paris St Germain all linked to his services.

However, it was Bayern who won the race for the 41-year-old, announcing yesterday he had signed a three-year deal and would be taking over at the end of the season when current manager Jupp Heynckes retires.

Tito Vilanova, who was Guardiola's assistant during four record-breaking years at Barca before being installed as his successor last year, admitted he was unaware what decision Guardiola had taken about his future, but feels Bayern is a good destination for him.

"I didn't know where he was going, I didn't know anything. I suppose he couldn't say. I'm very happy that he's returning to football and to one of Europe's great clubs," he said.

"I don't know what possible teams he could have gone to, nor the kinds of contracts he was offered but I'm sure they were all of the top level. He had time to choose and would have thought it all over very well.

"What's clear is that he couldn't go wrong because they were all top teams. And Bayern are an historic club, with four Champions League titles with some fantastic facilities."

Vilanova also insisted he had no idea who Guardiola's assistant would be amid speculation former Spain and Real Madrid striker Raul, who spent two seasons in Germany with Schalke before leaving for Qatar last summer, could be in line for the role

Guardiola's decision has also gone down well with others at the Nou Camp.

Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta said: "I'm very pleased for Guardiola. It means that he's doing well and that he's well rested, it means that he's eager to return to the world of football. Bayern have made a great signing.

"Bayern are a club that can offer you a solid and stable project, they also have good players. He's found what he was looking for and I'm happy.

"I'm sure that he will bring something new and will oblige all of us to move forward."

Club captain Carles Puyol said on his club's website: "They (Bayern) are a very good team and he is a great coach. He's going to one of the greats in Europe and we wish him the best."

Midfielder Javier Mascherano added: "It was expected that Guardiola would coach a great club and Bayern are one of them. They have great German players and style of play and philosophy similar to which you find here."

The appointment proves the strength of Bayern's global reputation, according to the club's honorary president Franz Beckenbauer.

"It shows they are on a par with the real greats - Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United," Beckenbauer told Sky television.

"Hats off to them. I'm sure Guardiola was snowed under with offers.

"He has become one of the most successful and best coaches in recent years and to get him is excellent."

Guardiola's impending arrival in the Bundesliga has been met with approval elsewhere in Germany.

"All I can do is congratulate them from the bottom of my heart, and without any envy," said Hans-Joachim Watzke, general manager of Bayern's biggest Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.

"You have got to say hats off to them," he added in Die Welt newspaper. "This is a huge thing for the Bundesliga as it gives it an even greater reputation internationally."

Former Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, whose success in leading the club to five Bundesliga titles and Champions League glory is seen as the benchmark for Guardiola, praised his former club for beating off illustrious competition for Guardiola's signature.

"It's just typical Bayern," he said. "They are always good for a major transfer.

"For Guardiola to come is a very important sign for the club. Once again, they have managed to lay the foundations in advance and avoid speculation early on."