#31 Bastian Schweinsteiger

[Oliver_Kahn]

One of the best Bayern players, without a doubt

[Oliver_Kahn]

Reaction to Bayern v Energie Cottbus

Bastian Schweinsteiger: "I don't think the shot for my goal was an easy take for the keeper. We should just move on from this match, and now we're off to bottom club Mainz, although it won't be easy for us there either. Obviously we've played a lot of games this year, and we're probably not as fresh as we were at the start of the season, but we'll get through our last couple of matches somehow."

[Oliver_Kahn]

He scored today for Bayern, as they beat Cottbus 2-1

[Oliver_Kahn]

Reaction to Friday’s Champions League draw:


Bastian Schweinsteiger: “I think it’s good we’ve been drawn to play Real. Real are one of the biggest names in European football. My first big appearance on the international stage came three years ago in Madrid. I know we lost, but I remember playing very well that night. We’ll do everything in our power to make the next round It’s a definite possibility against Madrid. We’re not such a bad team ourselves.”

[Oliver_Kahn]

Schweini scored Bayern's 4th goal, in today's 4-0 victory over Mainz

[Oliver_Kahn]

Schweini has to be focused and continue scoring for Bayern to be able to win the league

[simaozinho200]

bastian is a great quailty young player

[Oliver_Kahn]

He's one of the best long range shooters atm.
Ask Ricardo, he knows.

[Oliver_Kahn]

One of the devilish training routines dreamed up by the coaching staff for the first team squad at the Dubai training camp involved a flat-out slalom through a course marked out by 13 medicine balls. Arguably the most elegant charge around the hurdles was performed by Bastian Schweinsteiger, perhaps unsurprising for a man regarded just six years ago as one of Germany's most promising young skiers.

The German Ski Association was to be disappointed, as Schweini opted for football and a stellar ascent to the pinnacle of the gate. At just 22, the player is a fixture in the Germany team which finished third at the World Cup, and has won German championship and German Cup honours three times apiece. The midfielder is now being groomed for a major role in the Bayern team of the future.

From Schweini to Bastian

"He could be one of the greats," Uli Hoeneß declared in a recent interview, although the Reds' general manager called on the youngster to become "more serious. He needs to produce the form he showed at the World Cup more consistently." Oliver Kahn called on the midfielder "to take the next step. He needs to move on from 'Schweini' and become Bastian," the veteran keeper declared.

Schweinsteiger himself acknowledges that he no longer rates as a fresh-faced youngster, and must be prepared to accept more responsibility. "People expect a lot more of me than they did three years ago," he explained in Dubai. Formerly deployed almost exclusively as a wide man, Bastian occupied the pivotal central role behind the forward line in the last few matches before Christmas.

Good reviews

Most commentators agree he performed with credit. "The team has told me I did well," he reported, "and the coach was happy too, so it can't have been all that bad." The player could well continue in the playmaking department for the rest of the season. "I know I can play there. I was always used in the centre in my youth," he explained.

Nevertheless, coach Felix Magath has declined to confirm whether Schweinsteiger will be entrusted with the distribution role from now on. The boss has used the mid-season friendlies to try out a number of variations, with Schweinsteiger back in his former position out on the left.

Brazilian in disguise?

The man capped 41 times by Germany would be happy enough on the wing. "We all know he's one of Germany's best players," Roy Makaay recently commented. Schweinsteiger would even make it in Brazil, it seems. "I'd call him up," Brazil boss Carlos Dunga recently told SportBild magazine, quite an achievement for a former skiing prodigy turned star footballer.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Schweini is probably the best German winger and one of the best in Europe

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Franz Beckenbauer, the club's president, have clashed over the performance of midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Rummenigge scolded Beckenbauer for publicly questioning the decision of Bayern coach Felix Magath to make Schweinsteiger the creative midfielder behind the forward line - a position Bayern have struggled with since Michael Ballack left for Chelsea last year.

Beckenbauer had said: "He hasn't done anything sensible there because that's not his position."

Rummenigge retorted: "We don't need to talk about it in public whether Schweinsteiger plays better on the left or in the middle....

"You're not helping the coach by giving him advice through the media.

"For things such as training, tactics and lineups, the coach and only the coach is responsible."

Bayern were beaten by Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on Friday and are now six points behind Werder Bremen and Schalke 04. They host VfL Bochum on Tuesday.

Bayern duo clash - Football - Eurosport

[Trim]

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

He's one of the best long range shooters atm.
Ask Ricardo, he knows.

He 'killed' Ricardo 3 times this year, hahaha.
And not only Ricardo, but several keepers.
His shots are 'rockets', hardly stoppable.

[Trim]

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

Schweini is probably the best German winger and one of the best in Europe

Yeah, everyone knows that. And he will improve even more in the next few years.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by T-Red

He 'killed' Ricardo 3 times this year, hahaha.
And not only Ricardo, but several keepers.
His shots are 'rockets', hardly stoppable.

I loved every single goal by Schweini vs Ricardo. Even when it was against Portugal.

Originally Posted by T-Red

Yeah, everyone knows that. And he will improve even more in the next few years.

I just hope he doesn't leave.

[Trim]

^ No, he will never leave, trust me.
He has the Oliver Kahn and Mehmet Scholl heart, he will play for Bayern till he retires.