Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal has confirmed Mark van Bommel as his skipper for the new season and named Philipp Lahm as vice-captain.
The Dutch midfielder was given the captain's armband by Jurgen Klinsmann last season after Oliver Kahn retired.
However, the arrival of Anatoliy Tymoschuk from Zenit St Petersburg seemed to suggest that Van Bommel's place in the Bayern team was no longer guaranteed, but Van Gaal has decided that his compatriot will indeed be one of the first names on his team sheet next season.
"We have been observing his behaviour on and off the field over the last four weeks and the influence he has on the club and on the squad,'' explained Van Gaal's right-hand man Andries Jonker on the club's website.
Tymoschuk must now fear for his place in the Bayern team after being told he is only second-choice behind Van Bommel.
And since Van Gaal has made it clear that he wanted to choose a captain who will play every week, Tymoschuk may have to spend much of his first season in Bavaria sat on the bench.
"He cannot play in his best position in our system,'' admitted Van Gaal. "That is where Van Bommel plays. He could play on the right, but I have chosen Hamit Altintop for there. Every player is compared to his rivals and the coach makes the decisions.''
And Van Gaal is pleased to have Van Bommel conveying his orders on the field. "The players accept him like a captain,'' he added.
BAYERN Munich president Franz Beckenbauer on Sunday blasted French midfield star Franck Ribery for being more interested in his own career than the club.
'Ribery only came to Bayern to make his name. He's French and he cares nothing for Munich,' said former German football star Beckenbauer.
Asked on the possibility of Ribery breaking his contract a year before it ended, Beckenbauer said: 'Why sign a four-year contract if you only want to stay three years?'
The 26-year-old, a member of the Bayern squad for the past two years, is known to have been attracted by the lure of Real Madrid, but the high-spending Spanish club baulked at the 80 million euro (S$164 million) price tag set for the France international.
AFP via Straits Times
Franck Ribery has denied he wants to leave Bayern Munich for Real Madrid and insists he doesn't want a "controversy" with his club.
The midfielder was quoted last week as saying he'd made up his mind to leave Bayern with Real Madrid his intended destination, but he told Munich's Tz newspaper on Monday: "I have never said that I wanted to go.
"They were not my words, what I said was misinterpreted. I don't understand the whole discussion. I don't want a controversy with Bayern Munich. I would gladly clarify the situation.
"We have to wait and see if there is an offer coming and then sit down and talk. I do not want to say anything wrong right now.''
Ribery was reported as telling a French newspaper last week: "I have decided that I want to leave. It will be Real Madrid or nothing. I will wait to see how things pan out but I would like to hold talks with the Bayern management soon.''
Ribery also denied suggestions today he missed training sessions over the weekend so as not to jeopardise a move by picking up an injury.
"That is a lie,'' he said. "I have a heel problem and also a blister. I want to get back training as soon as possible.''
[Soccernet]
Bayern Munich sporting director Christian Nerlinger believes the club can convince Franck Ribery to stay by matching his lofty ambition.
Ribery has made no secret of his desire to play for the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona while Chelsea and Manchester United are also tracking the Frenchman, who Bayern claim is one of the best three players in the world at present.
However, Nerlinger is convinced he can help build a team around Ribery; one that he can be proud of and one which will not only convince him to fulfil the remaining two years of his contract, but stay with them even longer.
''We have got to provide Franck with the perspective of being on the same level as Europe's elite,'' he said. ''That is what he wants and then he will be happy in Munich.''
Bayern have already splashed the cash in the transfer market this summer, giving new coach Louis van Gaal several new players to work with next season, including 30m euro striker Mario Gomez and former Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Anatoliy Tymoschuk.
Yet Nerlinger has not ruled out spending even more to ensure Bayern can challenge in the Champions League as well as the Bundesliga in the coming seasons, if only to satisfy the Frenchman.
''In the mid-term, we will have very, very positive conditions here,'' he added in the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. ''We have got to offer him a top European club.''
Ribery will report back for pre-season training with Bayern on Wednesday, barring a last-minute change of heart by the Bavarian club's management as Real maintain their interest in the 26-year-old, aided by their new transfer advisor Zinedine Zidane, who appears to be doing all he can to convince Bayern to part company with the winger.
A sale is still possible until the end of August, though, and Bayern's bosses may well change their minds if they get the impression Ribery is no longer committed to their club.
''Obviously Ribery himself is decisive: what does he want and how does he behave,'' added Nerlinger, who will be keeping a close eye on the Frenchman in the build-up to the new season.
[Soccernet]
The long wait to decide the future of Franck Ribery could soon be over after the player's agent revealed that the Frenchman wants to sign for Real Madrid. Ribery has his pick of Europe's top clubs this summer, but appears set on a move to the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid and Barcelona head the queue for the midfielder, but agent Alan Miglaccio says that the Bayern star has been persuaded that joining Madrid would be a better option by compatriot Zinedine Zidane, who now works for Los Merengues.
Bayern have previously stated that they do not want to sell Ribery and, although the club's board and officials are currently on their holidays, a deal appears to be edging closer.
"Ribery would prefer to play for Real Madrid ahead of Barcelona," Miglaccio told RAC-1. "The player has spoken with Zinedine Zidane and wants to sign for Los Merengues.
"At this time any move is off because the people at Bayern are on holiday until the end of the month. I cannot say anything more until we meet with them in the coming weeks."
Zidane, in his new role as Los Blancos' sporting advisor, revealed last week that the club will do everything they can to bring Ribery to the Bernabeu.
"I am not in Madrid at the moment, but there are meetings being held at the moment regarding this matter. The negotiations are on the right track," he told Le Parisien. "I am all for Ribery joining Madrid and I will do everything to make it possible."
Ribery has been valued at around €70m by the German club but, with Madrid pulling out of negotiations over Valencia's David Villa, could now be the next big name to arrive in the Spanish capital.
[Soccernet]
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has dismissed reports linking goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen with Bayern Munich as "nonsense''.
Last week stories in the Danish press suggested the 33-year-old was a target for the four-time European champions.
However, Pulis is confident Sorensen will remain at the Britannia Stadium for a second season after the Potters survived their maiden top-flight campaign.
"Those reports are a load of nonsense as far as I'm concerned,'' he told The Sentinel.
"We are playing in the greatest league in the world and you'd have to ask why Thomas would want to move out of it at this stage.
"He's more than happy here as far as I'm aware. He had a great first season for us last year and I have to say how much I was impressed by his stature about the place.
"His experience and calibre was just what we needed as we stepped into the big time.''
[Soccernet]
Bayern Munich have denied reports earlier on Wednesday that they were preparing to sell midfielder Franck Ribery.
LarsBaron/GettyImages
Quotes attributed to club president Franz Beckenbauer in the Sport Bild magazine suggested they had decided to allow their star player to move clubs: "We discussed the issue at our last board meeting and we all agreed that, if he really wants to leave, then we will deal with the issue."
However, Bayern have now come out to say the article was a "false announcement and does not reflect the truth". Even so, it is sure to alert those interested that there is the possibility of a deal before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
"There is no such resolution by the advisory board of FC Bayern Munich AG which includes the issue of a sale of the player Franck Ribery," explained the club in an official statement.
"The transfer (sale) of a player does not need the approval of the advisory board, according to the constitution of the FC Bayern Munich AG board of directors.
"The FC Bayern Munich AG board of directors have made the overwhelming resolution that the player Franck Ribery is not for sale."
The Bundesliga side have previously refused to consider selling the France international unless they receive a "crazy offer".
Real Madrid were thought to be favourites to sign the 26-year-old but stated earlier this week that they felt he was too expensive. That could mean Manchester United step to the front of the queue as they look to spend some of the £80m set to come their way from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernabeu.
Barcelona and Chelsea, eager to sign top players in a younger age bracket, will also be watching with interest as to how the transfer saga develops in the coming weeks.
Previously it was though Bayern would look for €75m for Ribery, but if the player has suggested he wishes to move on the German outfit will not have such a position of power over the fee they demand.
Chelsea, United and Barca have already made firm enquiries about the playmaker.
But Real could come back into the running by offering Bayern some of their Dutch stars, who are all set to leave the club, as a makeweight. Reports in Spain suggest Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder have both been put forward as options for new Bayern's new Dutch coach Louis van Gaal.
Zinedine Zidane, an advisor to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, has spoken to France midfielder Franck Ribery to try and convince him to move to the Spanish capital from Bayern Munich. OliverLang/GettyImages Ribery: A man in demand this summer "I am in talks with Franck," the former three times World Player of the Year, who wore the Real shirt from 2001 to 2006, told Sunday's edition of French newspaper Le Dauphine Libere. "He is a fantastic player who has his place at Real. And playing in this team is a career opportunity, which, to me, you do not refuse. "It would be a nice opportunity for Franck. It is up to him." Real are on the verge of signing Cristiano Ronaldo after Manchester United accepted a world record bid of £80m ($132.1m) for the Portuguese forward earlier this week. Brazil playmaker Kaka has already joined from AC Milan for a reported fee of 67m euros ($94.27m), while Ribery is likely to cost around the same amount, if reported bids for the 26-year-old are anything to go by. "Bringing together the best players in the world has a cost," said Zidane.
Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has confirmed they want to sign Chelsea full-back Jose Bosingwa. MNChan/GettyImages Bosingwa: A wanted man The right-back slot is the only area Bayern are still looking to strengthen after making seven signings already this summer - and Hoeness feels Bosingwa fits the bill. "Our transfer activities are basically closed," he told Munich's tz newspaper. "We are only looking at whether there are possibilities for the right-back position." He added: "We are interested in Bosingwa. That's correct." The Portugal international only moved to Stamford Bridge last summer, but Bayern are noticeably short of cover in his position. Their only recognised right-back is Christian Lell, still yet to prove himself at the highest level. Philipp Lahm is more comfortable on the left, while veteran Willy Sagnol retired earlier this year because of persistent injury problems. Turkey international Hamit Altintop can play at right-back but is more effective in midfield. Hoeness also hinted Bayern could change their stance on Franck Ribery. The Bavarian giants have repeatedly stressed the France midfielder is not for sale, but that determination could now be wavering. "We have said we will only deal under certain conditions," said Hoeness. "Namely if the others want to do really crazy things." That suggests a huge offer - thought to be at least ¬60m - could persuade Bayern to part with their prized asset. Manchester United - who will certainly have the money to finance a deal should Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid go through - and Madrid themselves have been linked with Ribery. Bayern's seventh summer signing was completed earlier on Thursday when Holland defenderEdson Braafheid joined from FC Twente. The 26-year-old has penned a four-year deal at the Allianz Arena after passing a medical this morning. Braafheid was also wanted by Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven and Ajax but turned them down last week and opted instead for a move to the Bundesliga. A statement from Bayern read: "Braafheid was a player sought after by new Bayern coach Louis van Gaal and can play as a left-back as well as a centre-back."
Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer has called for the future of Franck Ribery to be decided one way or another to prevent a long-running soap opera this summer.
The France international has been linked with a host of clubs, including Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United, but Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness has sent out mixed signals by first claiming he was not for sale at any price and then expressing his willingness to speak to new Real president Florentino Perez.
Beckenbauer wants the issue resolved, either by signing Ribery to a new contract or selling him.
"I can see only two solutions: Ribery extends his contract so the issue is dealt with or we release him,'' he said. "I rate Ribery alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and (Lionel) Messi as the best footballers in the world at present,'' he added in the Bild newspaper.
"If he were to leave, it would be the second huge loss for the Bundesliga after Diego. However, if Ribery wants to leave, then it will be hard for us to keep hold of him.''
Nevertheless, Beckenbauer does not believe Bayern's world would fall apart without the 26-year-old.
"So many so-called irreplaceable players have gone yet football has still moved on,'' he said. "Obviously it would be a shame, though, and it is hard to imagine Bayern being better without Ribery.''
Real are believed to be preparing a bid which would tempt Bayern's new Dutch coach Louis van Gaal by offering his two compatriots Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder offered together with a sizeable sum for a man who, according to Hoeness, has just one of his legs valued at €50m.
Ribery is unsure where his future lies.
"I will see how my situation is going to develop. Honestly, I don't know - my situation isn't easy to deal with,'' the former Marseille winger said.
"I am under contract until 2011 with Bayern, I am fine over there. I'm not someone who likes to clash - I have spent two good years at Bayern. We will see how everything turns out.''
Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness has sent out mixed signals by first claiming Ribery was not for sale at any price, then expressing his willingness to speak to Perez.
[Soccernet]
Bayern Munich are to seal the €10m capture of Croatia international Danijel Pranjic, according to reports.
Pranjic, a left-sided defender and midfielder, will move to the Allianz Arena from Dutch side Heerenveen.
"What can I say other than I am delighted," Pranjic was quoted as saying by the Bild newspaper. "We are talking about a huge club. I will give my best to pay back the faith of (new coach Louis) van Gaal. And I am already really looking forward to playing together with Ivica Olic in the future."
Olic, Pranjic's fellow Croatian, has also signed for Bayern from Hamburg.
"We are in agreement with the player,'' Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness told the club's official website. "But the discussions with the club are still not closed. Therefore we cannot yet give 100% confirmation of the transfer.''
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claims Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer is keen on a move to the Allianz Arena.
Neuer, 23, is being tipped as a potential long-term replacement in the Germany team for Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann and made his international debut in a friendly win over United Arab Emirates this week.
"I believe that Manuel Neuer is interested in coming to FC Bayern," Rummenigge told the club's official website. "Should Schalke give us a signal that they are ready to talk we will start negotiations."
Bayern are on the lookout for a new keeper after Michael Rensing failed to live up to expectations last season. He was dropped towards the end of the campaign.
New Schalke coach Felix Magath insists, though, his number one is going nowhere.
Magath, who guided Wolfsburg to their first Bundesliga title last term before swapping the VW-Arena for the Arena AufSchalke, said in the Bild newspaper: "Manuel Neuer has a contract with Schalke until 2012. He will play for Schalke next season. There is nothing more to say."
Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has once again stated that Franck Ribery is not going to be sold this summer after discussing the issue with new coach Louis van Gaal.
Ribery is regarded as one of the hottest commodities on the transfer market this summer, with some of Europe's top clubs reportedly lining up to sign him, but Bayern's new coach has requested he be allowed to work with the Frenchman next season.
''He really wants to keep him,'' announced Hoeness after holding talks with van Gaal. ''We will not let Ribery go.''
Nevertheless, Hoeness expects a busy summer of turning down offers for the midfielder.
''Most clubs only ended their season (recently) and when the players go on holiday, the bosses start with their planning,'' he added in Munich's Abendzeitung newspaper.
''There will be enquiries for Ribery in the next four to six weeks, I'm sure. But we have not had any decisive enquiry and we are not interested in any of the rumours in the English press.
''We will be polite, but we will not negotiate. We are not going to celebrate on the telephone when somebody offers a certain amount.''
Van Gaal arrived in Munich on Monday and has also addressed the issue of Luca Toni, who seems to be surplus to requirements following the signing of Mario Gomez from Stuttgart and Ivica Olic from Hamburg.
Unlike with Ribery, Hoeness would not hang up the phone immediately on an offer for the Italian.
''In general, four strikers are enough, but if we have five, then we have five,'' he said. ''We will not be sending anybody away. But if somebody comes to us and wants one of our strikers, then we will talk.''
Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has put a price tag on Franck Ribery of "at least 100 million euros'' as several clubs continue to be linked with the Frenchman.
Chelsea were reported to be considering making an offer in the region of 50 million euros, but Hoeness insists he would only listen to an offer of double that much, claiming yesterday that you could "get one of his legs at best" for such a sum.
"If I hear that there was an offer for 125 million euros for Kaka, then Ribery has a market value of at least 100 million,'' Hoeness told the Bild newspaper. "But I don't want to talk about a fee we would consider because we want to keep hold of Franck.''
According to Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Ribery will still be a Bayern Munich player next season, no matter what Chelsea or any other club offers.
He told Munich's Tz newspaper that "only FC Bayern decides what happens, however many millions are offered. We do not want to sell Franck."
Bayern Munich have dismissed reports that Chelsea have opened negotiations to sign midfielder Franck Ribery, claiming that the Frenchman is ''not for sale''.
Various tabloids in the UK have linked the 26-year-old playmaker with a move away from Germany and the Bundesliga in recent weeks, and new speculation had suggested that the two clubs have now agreed a fee for the French international.
Bayern have stated that they want to keep Ribery, although that has not stopped the speculation about his future, forcing the club into another public statement.
"This story is completely untrue," Bayern media officer Markus Horwick told Deutsche Presseagentur. "Franck Ribery remains not for sale."
''Our stance has not changed: we would like to extend Ribery's contract, not sell him.''
The in-form Frenchman has been consistently linked with a move away with Chelsea the latest club to be linked with the former Marseille man. Chelsea's managerial target Carlo Ancelotti recently revealed that Ribery would be one of the first players he would try to sign if he took control at Stamford Bridge.
Ribery's contract with Bayern still has two years left to run on it, but general manager Uli Hoeness recently admitted Manchester United had made a ''casual inquiry''. Whether that inquiry develops into something more serious will depend on the future of Cristiano Ronaldo and the long-running saga over a prospective move to Real Madrid.
Ribery has also been linked with Real in recent months, while Barcelona dropped their interest after talks with Bayern over a possible deal were made public.
Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has warned midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger he will need to improve his performances next season.
The Germany international failed to make an impression on Hoeness this campaign and has been told more is expected of him in the future.
"You have got to ask him quite clearly if he always just wants to be any old member of this squad," Hoeness told Sport Bild magazine.
"Is what he showed here last year how he imagined things to be with us at Bayern?"
Hoeness also said Philipp Lahm cannot expect to leave the club just because of his "nice guy" image.
The Germany full-back was strongly linked with Barcelona last summer and the Champions League winners are believed to be showing an interest again, but Hoeness is not listening to the rumours.
He said: "There is not one player who can leave us just because he is a nice guy. Are we a charity or something?"
Mario Gomez has every reason to smile.
VfB Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez will join Bayern Munich in a deal that could make him the most expensive Bundesliga player ever.
Both clubs and the player confirmed they had agreed a deal that media have estimated will be worth about €30m. This would be the biggest in German league history.
Manchester United paid €25m for Owen Hargreaves in 2007.
"I am looking forward to Bayern," Gomez told the club website at the start of an Asian tour with the German national team. "The club is something special. I want to compete for the championship with it and look forward to the Champions League."
Gomez scored 24 times for Stuttgart this season, a personal best, and has long been on Bayern's shopping list. He also won the 2007 championship with Stuttgart.
The move could increase the chances of Bayern playmaker Franck Ribery staying on.
Ribery, courted by most major European clubs, has repeatedly called on Bayern to buy other players to create a more competitive team.
"We managed to hold on to him twice," Stuttgart manager Horst Heldt said about Gomez. "But he has now decided on a change. The fact is that if Bayern meet our conditions then the transfer will be complete in a few days.
The 23-year-old German, whose father is from Spain, has won 23 caps for Germany, scoring six goals, the last more than a year ago.
Gomez said he understood why some Stuttgart fans would be surprised that he was joining rivals Bayern.
"But I hope they will fondly remember the amazing times we lived through together," he added.
The deal only became possible after Bayern clinched the second Bundesliga spot leading to automatic Champions League qualification, guaranteeing them several million euros worth of added revenues.
Bayern confirmed their interest hours after grabbing the spot with a 2-1 win against Stuttgart on Saturday.
"We are delighted that Mario Gomez has decided to join us," said Bayern General Director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. "He is a first class striker, one of the best in Germany."
Bayern have already signed Anatoliy Tymoschuk from Zenit St. Petersburg, Ivica Olic from Hamburg SV and Alexander Baumjohann from Borussia Moenchengladbach.
[Soccernet]
Bayern Munich will open talks with Stuttgart next week over the possibility of signing Germany international striker Mario Gomez, according to the Bavarian club's general manager Uli Hoeness.
Hoeness told DSF television today he is hopeful the two clubs will be able to agree on the transfer of Gomez to Bayern.
"We will start talks next week and then we will see what comes of it," he said. "I would say today he is a very interesting player. I am relatively optimistic."
Funds to finance a deal should not have to come from the sale of Bayern's star midfielder Franck Ribery, however.
"He has a contract for another two years and there is no get-out clause at all," said Hoeness. "(Keeping him) is not so difficult."
Hoeness is confident keeping Ribery and signing Gomez will enable new coach Louis van Gaal to plan for a successful season next year and he has every confidence the Dutchman will show a better eye for talent than his predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann.
For the first time since Klinsmann was sacked in April, Hoeness criticised his leadership of the club.
"No coach has ever had as much of an influence on things in the history of FC Bayern as Klinsmann," he said. "His wishes were not only fulfilled, they were over-fulfilled. To claim he was not allowed to do what he wanted is wrong.
"The only concrete suggestion Klinsmann had was to sign Landon Donovan and (reserve team coach) Hermann Gerland said he would never even have played him in the reserve team."
Hoeness also today confirmed Christian Nerlinger will be taking over his position at the club this summer.
"Nerlinger will become our director of sport on July 1," said the 57-year-old, who had already announced his intention to leave his post at the end of the year after three decades.
By then, Hoeness hopes to have found another man to work alongside Nerlinger in a dual role to take care of the marketing and sponsorship side of the business while Nerlinger can concentrate on team affairs.
[Soccernet]
VfL Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath has been around too long to just sit back and enjoy watching his players clinch their first Bundesliga title on Saturday with a win over Werder Bremen on the last matchday (1330 GMT).
With a two-point lead over record champions Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart going into the last match, a win will guarantee the Bundesliga title and even a draw or a defeat could be enough to clinch it.
Magath, used to success on the big stage as player and coach, is in no mood for early celebrations, however, demanding that his players keep their focus and close their eyes to the green-and-white decorations already on show in the city streets and squares.
"We are not yet sucking on the candy," Magath warned this week, after sending off Daniel Adlung during training for what the strict disciplinarian perceived as lack of commitment in practice.
"We must stay focused for another 90 minutes. If we play half as good as in the last two matches then it should be enough," Magath said.
It will be hard for Wolfsburg to actually lose the title in what has been the most gripping season finale in years.
With a near-perfect home record of 15 wins and a draw in 16 games, the match against Bremen, fresh from their UEFA Cup final defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk and ahead of the May 30 German Cup final, should be straightforward.
Even second-placed Bayern are now only hoping for a miracle, similar to the one in 2001 when a last-gasp goal against Hamburg SV won them the title as Schalke 04 were already celebrating.
This time, though, matters are not entirely in Bayern's hands.
The champions face Stuttgart (1330), direct competitors, who would be more than happy to settle for second place and win automatic Champions League qualification.
"I don't want to think about the title. Second spot is realistic even though we have a Herculean task," said Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel, a former Bayern player.
Stuttgart have salvaged what looked like a lost season, with Babbel taking over in late November and guiding them up the table. A win in Munich would be the crowning achievement of his first season as Bundesliga coach before even obtaining the proper coaching licence.
"The dice have been cast by 99.5 percent," Bayern General Manager Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. "The title is in Wolfsburg's hands and I do not see them dropping it. If we are second after the game against Stuttgart we will be happy with the season."
[Reuters via Soccernet]
Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has admitted defeat in his side's bid to defend their Bundesliga title this season.
With one game of the season remaining, Bayern trail Wolfsburg by two points and must beat Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena on Saturday to stand any chance of winning the title.
But Heynckes, who is unbeaten in four games in charge since replacing Jurgen Klinsmann last month, is being realistic.
"Wolfsburg are not going to let the title be taken from them," he said.
Bayern have yet to sit on top of the Bundesliga all season and Heynckes suggests he would have been able to take them there if he had replaced Klinsmann a little earlier.
"Our surge came too late," he told the Rheinische Post newspaper. "The team is working better all the time and is enjoying its football and is presenting itself well.
"Even if Stuttgart have a run going, I am convinced that we will beat them on Saturday."
A defeat for Bayern is almost inconceivable since it could mean another season in the UEFA Europa League rather than the Champions League.
Keeping hold of the likes of Franck Ribery and signing other big-name players would be compromised by such a scenario, leaving a lot riding on Saturday's final game of the season, even if the title is probably beyond Bayern.
• Axed Bayern Munich coach Juergen Klinsmann has blamed the club's powerful chiefs and his former players for his failed 10-month stint at the German champions.
"I hit the limits with my way of thought because I often had to deal with people who were unwilling to develop further. I wanted to take the next step," Klinsmann told stern TV on Wednesday.
"They are all alpha males and also need their space. They are all personalities you have to work with."
Klinsmann also blamed players for neglecting the Bundesliga in favour of Champions League glory. Bayern were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Barcelona.
"They were very motivated for the Champions League. But there was lack of consistency (in the league). They thought the Bundesliga would run by itself. We dropped silly points."
The 44-year-old said he should have asked for three or four signings.
"It was a mistake to accept compromises because you are dealing with alpha males," he said.
"One of the mistakes was to take over the squad that was given to me. I should have been clear from the start and say 'I need three or four players'. I allowed myself to be convinced."
Bayern, who are in second place two points off the top with a match left to play, take on VfB Stuttgart on Saturday and need a slip-up by leaders Wolfsburg to clinch the title.
[Soccernet]
Bayern Munich would have won the Bundesliga this season had Jurgen Klinsmann been given the chance to complete his first season in charge of the Bavarian giants.
Klinsmann only replaced Ottmar Hitzfeld in July 2008 but was sacked last month after suffering defeats to title rivals VfLWolfsburg and FC Schalke 04 and a humiliating Champions League quarter-final defeat against which included a 4-0 thumping in the Camp Nou.
Louis van Gaal, who led AZ Alkmaar to the Dutch title this season, has been confirmed as Bayern's coach for next season, but Klinsmann contends that he was harshly treated by the club he served as a player between 1995 and 1997.
''Many things were chalked up to me which I could do nothing about,'' he said in an interview with RTL programme stern TV.
He added: ''That was actually the most painful thing in the matter, that you had the feeling you would have been able to finish this job. I would have been able to lead the team to the championship.''
Bayern currently lie two points behind Wolfsburg with just one game remaining. If they are to retain the Bundesliga title, Bayern must beat VfB Stuttgart and hope the Wolves lose to Werder Bremen.
The former Germany national team coach was removed after the club's senior figures revealed they and the Bayern players had lost faith in his capabilities.
But Klinsmann is unrepentant and believes that his work at the club will bear fruit, saying: ''We have laid the foundation stone for the future.''
Meanwhile Bayern midfielders Ze Roberto and Hamit Altintop will be fit to play in the final match of the season against Stuttgart after the pair returned to training.
[Soccernet]
