FRANZ BECKENBAUER

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Former German international Franz Beckenbauer has said that Bayern Munich would have had a much better chance of reaching the Champions League final had they been playing against Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals. Instead, Bayern Munich will be playing against one of the strongest teams in the competition over the last five years – Barcelona. The Spanish club has won this trophy an incredible three times in the last seven seasons. As a result, they are the favourites going into the match at the Allianz Arena. This will be the first league match, which will be followed by the match at the Camp Nou in a week’s time.

Beckenbauer, though, has said that this is a great draw for German football since it gives them an opportunity to have an all-German final at Wembley. Borussia Dortmund have had success against Real Madrid earlier in the season when the two sides met each of the in the group stages. They are expected to dominate the first leg since it will be at home. Bayern Munich have been one of the best teams in the competitions so far. They are also regarded the strongest in terms of a squad strength as well. Yet, Beckenbauer reckons that Barcelona will be providing a strong test.

“My first reaction was from a Bayern perspective, that this was not a ‘dream draw’. I would have viewed Dortmund as an easier opponent than Barcelona, the world’s best club team. But my second reaction was: these are two super draws for German football. Our team has an incredible stability. We have a very good chance because of the form that we are in. But there is [Lionel] Messi, Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, who were born [to play] for one another,” said Beckenbauer in an interview given to German tabloid Bild.

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The German legend Franz Beckenbauer has said that Bayern Munich certainly do not need the services of the Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski. The German giants have been linked with the Polish striker for the last few months now.

The 24-year-old is out of contract next summer, which would enable Bayern to sign him on a free transfer. However, he has been subjected to interest from several big clubs across Europe like Real Madrid and Chelsea. As a result, it is thought that Bayern would be interested in the possibility of bringing him in the summer itself on a cut-price deal. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Bayern Munich legend Franz Beckenbauer has said that he cannot be critical about the way the French club Paris St Germain have been looking to join the elite clubs in the world by spending vast sums of money. He has also said that a city like Paris deserves a big club and Paris St Germain are in the process of providing the same. The club was recently taken over by the Qatari owners, who have been spending vast sums of money on several high profile players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic. They are currently top of the French Ligue One standings, while they have also qualified for the last 16 stage of the Champions league.

It was not long ago that the Bayern Munich Chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge criticised the transfer policy of the French club. Rummenigge said that football should not fall in the hands of investors looking to make money. Beckenbauer, though, have said that a city like Paris deserves to have a big team. Even though he has said that the objectives of the owners is questionable, there are now several clubs like Malaga and Manchester city who can also be questioned as well. PSG are reportedly paying the striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic close to £ 200,000 per week.

“PSG project has taken shape and is working. This team is more about the city and the results that match its ambitions. PSG now has a staff of high quality. A city the size of Paris deserves a big team. Even here in Germany, we talk about it. The project of Qatar is of course questionable, but it’s the same thing Manchester City or Malaga have done. Qatari leaders have managed to sign great players and suddenly, interest in the Championnat de France has grown,” said the Bayern Munich honorary president.

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The Bayern Munich legend Franz Beckenbauer has said that he is extremely confident that the former French international Zinedine Zidane is well-suited to managing an international team. The former Real Madrid and Juventus midfielder is regarded as one of the world. He retired from football after the end of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The former World Cup winner is currently with the Spanish club Real Madrid as an advisor. He has been linked with a managerial post over the last few months, while Beckenbauer feels that he will be making a good international manager.

Beckenbauer has said that Zidane has all the qualities to becoming a good international manager rather than a club manager. Zidane is someone who does not express his opinions a lot. However, his history and aura mean that players will be willing to listen to his opinions almost immediately. The former Paris St Germain manager Guy Lacombe has also said that Zidane would be a great manager, but has said that he is ideally suited for managing either France or Real Madrid – with whom he has tasted more success than with PSG. Meanwhile, his former teammate Lizarazu is of the opinion that Zidane should take any job that becomes available rather than waiting for the big jobs.

“Knowing Zidane, I see him as a international team coach rather than as a club coach. There would be less pressure and it will reflects better his personality because he’s someone who does not speak a lot. His history is of an exceptional player, and with his aura and status, each player would listen to him. I’m sure he can be a great coach,” said Beckenbauer. “Maybe when he reaches a larger international dimension, he will be tempted by PSG. But I see him writing a story with two teams, the Real Madrid and France team,” said Lacombe.

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The German legend Franz Beckenbauer has said that he is of the opinion that the German club Borussia Dortmund may spring a surprise when it comes to the Champions League title this time around. The German club Borussia Dortmund have managed to win the German Bundesliga title ahead of the immense favourites Bayern Munich for the last two seasons in succession. Even though they did not make a huge mark in the European competition last season, they have been extremely good in the group stages this time around. This is even more impressive when considering the fact that the group contained the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City.

After having come out of the group stages in the best possible manner, Borussia Dortmund will be waiting for the draw for the last 16 stage of the competition. Beckenbauer reckons that Borussia Dortmund have enough quality in the team to be able to spring a surprise in this competition. Due to the fact that they are outsiders to win the Bundesliga title this season, they will be able to focus their attention totally on the Champions League. Dortmund are currently seven points behind the leaders Bayern Munich in the table after a poor start to the domestic season.

“If they continue to play like this, then they don’t need to care about who they are drawn against in the knockout stage. Anybody who can beat Real Madrid so easily can certainly harbour hopes of winning the Champions League. I’d like to see Bayern against Dortmund in the final,” said the former Bayern Munich legend in a recent interview. German team have not been successful in the Champions League over the last decade. Bayern Munich have come the closest to winning the title on two of the last three seasons.