FCB - General Talk - Page 8 - TalkSoccer

**Oliver_Kahn** · 11-12-2006, 01:48 PM

After week 16, Bayern are 4th, 3 pts behind leaders Bremen and Schalke.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 11-12-2006, 01:51 PM

Magath hasn't convinced me yet, Bayern are playing badly.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 12-12-2006, 12:58 PM

Julio Dos Santos is poised to pull on VfL Wolfsburg colours in the New Year after Bayern and the Lower Saxony outfit agreed terms on a loan deal for the Paraguay midfielder. "The clubs have struck a deal. We're just waiting for Wolfsburg to agree terms with Julio," Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge announced on Monday.

The loan period extends to the end of the current 2006-7 season, and does not include an option to purchase. The 23-year-old, under contract in Bavaria until 30 June 2009, will then return to the Säbener Strasse. "We continue to be convinced he has what it takes," Rummenigge explained.

Only one start

Bayern are hoping Dos Santos will gain regular match practice in the VfL team coached by Munich legend Klaus Augenthaler. Since arriving in Bavaria from Cerro Porteño Asunción last winter, Julio has made just five Bundesliga appearances, with two outings in the Champions League and one in the DFB German Cup. He has made the starting line-up on just one solitary occasion, the final match of last season at home to Borussia Dortmund.

"I think VfL is a well-run club with plenty of potential," Julio was quoted as saying recently in the Wolfsburger Nachrichten newspaper. The Wolves currently lie 12th in the Bundesliga on 19 points. Augenthaler's men dealt Bayern their second defeat of the campaign by the only goal of the game on matchday 6.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 14-12-2006, 09:29 PM

Bayern fans have already devised a chant predicting their side's progress to the Champions League final on 23 May 2007 in Athens, as the club pursues its dream of repeating the most recent night of European glory in Milan back into 2001.

Naturally, if the German double winners are to lift Europe's top trophy, they will have to overcome challenging and perhaps even daunting opponents on the way. On Friday, the playing and coaching staff, the management team and of course Bayern fans around the world will be focused on "high noon" in Nyon, Switzerland, when the draw for the first knockout round takes place.

Best avoid Barcelona

"There are no easy opponents, but there are definitely easier opponents than Barcelona," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge wryly commented on Thursday, making no secret of his desire to avoid the holders at this stage. The Catalan giants could face group winners Bayern after finishing second behind Chelsea in their section.

Mark van Bommel was inclined to agree, repeating his opinion that Munich would be best served by avoiding Spanish opposition. Apart from the Dutchman's former club, Real Madrid are also among the teams which finished second in their group. "Barcelona and Real are two of the favourites to make the final," van Bommel argued. "We'll take any other opponents, they're all difficult, but we don't want to go to Spain."

Magath betting on Real

Coach Felix Magath was in an altogether more relaxed mood ahead of the draw. "I'll take what comes. I wouldn't mind going to Spain, as it will definitely be warmer than here," the 53-year-old quipped. In any case, Magath has made up his mind which of the seven potential opponents will be paired with his side for the first leg on 20 or 21 February next year: "I think it'll be Madrid."

The return two weeks later on 6 or 7 March will take place at the Allianz Arena. Apart from the Spanish duo, Bayern could be drawn to face AS Rome, Glasgow giants Celtic, FC Porto or PSV Eindhoven, although on paper the easiest tie would be against surprise French package OSC Lille, almost certainly a manageable task as the first step on the road to Athens.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 14-12-2006, 09:29 PM

I want Lille

**Oliver_Kahn** · 14-12-2006, 09:35 PM

Bayern embark on their fourth Dubai training camp in as many years on 5 January 2007, but this season's 10-day winter stay in the Emirate includes an exciting new element. "We're delighted that we've found something we've been looking for over recent years," Karl-Heinz Rummenigge commented, accepting one of four invitations to contest the inaugural Dubai Cup.

On Thursday, the Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Football Championship, the official name of the tournament in honour of the head of government of the United Arab Emirates, was formerly introduced at the Allianz Arena in Munich. "I hope we'll see high-quality football," commented Nasser Bin Hassan Al-Shaikh, Managing Director of the National Bonds Corporation of Dubai and official host of the Dubai Cup.

Lazio, Benfica and FC Santos

Alongside Bayern, the other three participants are Lazio Rome, Benfica Lisbon and Brazil cracks FC Santos, featuring former Red Zé Roberto. "We wanted to feature clubs which are rich in tradition but have remained successful," Nasser Al-Shaikh explained. "We're delighted we've been able to attract four leading clubs from their respective leagues."

Each team will play two matches at the tournament, a semi-final and either the third place play-off or the final, on 8 and 10 January. "Let me make no secret of the fact that Bayern Munich want to win this tournament," Rummenigge declared, adding his appreciation of two aspects of the event, "two high quality and serious matches" on the one hand, and on the other hand "attractive price money."

Bayern to play Benfica

A total of US$ 2 million is at stake, allocated according to each club's final position. "It's a chance to combine mid-season preparation with a financial reward. Every Bundesliga club would want that," the Munich chairman commented. "I'm convinced the tournament will be a great success."

Bayern open their programme on 8 January at 5.45 pm CET against Benfica at the Al-Ahli stadium. The matches featuring the German champions will be broadcast on German subscription TV, with highlights available later on our premium channel FCB.tv.

Dubai Cup match schedule

8 January
2:45 pm CET: Lazio v Santos
5:45 pm CET: Bayern v Benfica

10 January
2:45 pm CET: Third place play-off
5:45 pm CET: Final

**Oliver_Kahn** · 14-12-2006, 09:35 PM

Very nice to kick Benfica's ass

**Oliver_Kahn** · 15-12-2006, 01:27 PM

Bayern have been set a tough but not impossible task in taking on the nine times European champions Real Madrid in the draw for the Champions League first knockout round, made at midday on Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

The Reds have been spared the prospect of an early meeting with reigning champions Barcelona, who will play Liverpool after stuttering to second place in the group stage. Although Real Madrid could also only second place in their group after being soundly beaten in Lyon, the Spaniards look a more coherent and well-organised outfit this season under former Juventus coach Fabio Capello.

Bayern and Real are meeting in the first knock-out round of the Champions League for the second time in three years. In 2004 the Spaniards went through with a 1-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium after beiung fortunate to leave Munich with a 1-1 draw.

Bayern will play the first leg in Madrid on Tuesday or Wednesday, 20 or 21 February, with the potentially decisive home leg at the Allianz Arena taking place on Tuesday or Wednesday, 6 or 7 March.

Champions League first knock-out round draw in full:

Porto v Chelsea
Celtic v AC Milan
PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal
Lille v Manchester United
AS Roma v Olympique Lyon
Barcelona v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Bayern
Internazionale v Valencia

**Oliver_Kahn** · 15-12-2006, 01:48 PM

Felix Magath is fascinated by his job, over and over again. bundesliga.de met up with FC Bayern München's head coach.

bundesliga.de: Felix Magath, you're a true Bundesliga personality. You were a long-time professional and now a trainer. What makes the Bundesliga so special for you?

Felix Magath: The Bundesliga is constantly changing, and there are always new aspects to consider. Every club is differently structured, and every objective and squad is different. You're always being challenged and you are never bored.

bundesliga.de: What is the difference between experiencing the league as a player and as a coach?

Magath: Well, as a player you are more or less responsible for yourself, and you really only have to ensure that you play a good game. It's much more difficult for a coach. He always has decisions to make, and he is expected to also have all the right solutions. That's a very tough challenge, and it demands everything from you. It really is a full-time job.

bundesliga.de: Nowadays having to do interviews is a part of the job, although it has little to do with sport or training. Does that bother you sometimes?

Magath: A lot has changed over the last 20 years. Back then it was different, whereas nowadays there are so many different factors in your surrounding environment that can influence the game. There's a lot more marketing and media presence. It's part of the game. More money has flowed into the sport through the media and sponsoring. And naturally, we have to earn that money.

bundesliga.de: That aside, as a player, did you know that you would want to be a coach?

Magath: Towards the end of my playing career I was pretty sure that I wanted to become a coach. And that's exactly what I did.

bundesliga.de: Would you say that coaching FC Bayern is like a dream come true? Is there a better post in the Bundesliga? Or is it a burden?

Magath: Yeah, it's a bit of both. There's no better club in Germany than FC Bayern. In fact, I'd go further and say there's no better club in the whole world. You have to realise that you cannot only evaluate FC Bayern's sporting achievements. All of them were made possible thanks to sound financial planning. It's completely different to other clubs, who must finance everything by falling into debt. In that respect, I cannot rate what FC Bayern's bosses have achieved here high enough.

bundesliga.de: How do you relax? It's known that you play chess for a hobby. Do you get the chance to play or do you have other ways to wind down and say: "now I'm just Felix Magath"?

Magath: Well, I still have three small children, so I don't really have any time for any leisure activities. After all, the kids demand a lot of my time. But I do like to enjoy reading a crime novel before I go to bed, which helps me to relax.

bundesliga.de: You're now with Bayern, but do you think about the future, or where you would like to work? Or are you concentrating on your current job?

Magath: In principle, you should only focus on what you currently doing, because the job doesn't allow you the room to plan ahead. Personally, I've always wanted to work abroad and I could imagine coaching in another country after my time with FC Bayern has come to an end.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 15-12-2006, 01:49 PM

Bundesliga is certaiinly one of the best leagues in the world.

**Pennywise** · 15-12-2006, 01:58 PM

Bundesliga is a very underrated league.

Many great clubs. Many goals, beautiful stadiums, the most visited league in Europe when it comes to fans. The league have a bigger average than PL, La Liga and Serie A.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 15-12-2006, 02:01 PM

I'm sure that the Bundesliga is a top 5 league in the world.

**Pennywise** · 15-12-2006, 04:07 PM

My list atm is:

1. La Liga
2. The PL
3. Bundesliga

**Oliver_Kahn** · 15-12-2006, 04:11 PM

I agree.

Serie A without Juve and with Milan being crap, isn't the same.