..::Football III::..

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San Siro to host 2016 Champions League final

San Siro has been chosen as the host venue of next season’s Champions League final, Uefa has confirmed.

The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, home of both AC Milan and Inter, last held the final in 2000-01, when Bayern Munich overcame Valencia on penalties after a 1-1 draw. In total, the 2016 final will be the fourth to be held at the famous venue. It also played host to the main event in 1965 and 1970.It comes as a shot in the arm for Italian football, with the country having previously bid for the 2016 European Championships but missed out to France.

Uefa has also announced that Basel’s St Jakob Park has been selected to host the Uefa Europa League final for 2015-16. The stadium held six matches at Euro 2008, including Germany’s semi-final win over Turkey.The Europa League final will be held on May 18, 2016, with the Champions League final coming 10 days later.

This season’s Champions League and Europa League finals take place in Berlin and Warsaw, respectively.

 

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Gervinho patta

Ow machan elatama play karanawa
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'Ronaldo? Ramos is my favourite' - Fernandez

Deportivo La Coruna boss Victor Fernandez says Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos is the player he would most love to sign and not Cristiano Ronaldo.

The two sides go head to head on Saturday afternoon, with Deportivo surprisingly ahead of the Champions League winners in 10th place on four points - one more than their visitors this weekend.Fernandez was asked whether he would be paying special attention to Ronaldo at his pre-match press conference, but instead took the opportunity to reveal his admiration for Ramos.

He said: "We’ll be paying attention to their entire team but one cannot deny that Cristiano is a beacon in their side. He has an incredible competitive drive with a desire to get better, break records and this is quite clear from just watching him play. Despite his recent injury issues, he’s a winner and pulls the rest along."My personal favourite, however, is Sergio Ramos. He does everything so well, a leader and world champion. I’d be happy with either of the two!"

Fernandez was also quick to dismiss Madrid's poor start to the season, which has seen them beaten twice in La Liga in their first three games."Madrid have been widely criticised for two games, however they were fantastic in the Supercup when they showed just what they are capable of as a footballing collective.

"It’s unlike them to concede an early advantage to their rivals but the season has just begun. Madrid never give up."

 

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Chicharito reveals Ronaldo bond

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez has revealed how Cristiano Ronaldo has helped him to settle at Real Madrid in his early weeks since joining the club.

The Mexico striker arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu on a season-long loan deal from Manchester United and instantly struck up a rapport with the Portugal star as he finds his feet in Spain.

"Cristiano has treated me very well," Hernandez told AS."We can discuss many things that we have in common, but believe me, as in Manchester, every player in the squad is supportive and makes you feel welcome."The great thing about the best teams in the world is that every player is aware he is surrounded by the world's best players and so we all pull together."

Hernandez found himself surplus to requirements under David Moyes at Man United last season and couldn't force his way into Louis van Gaal's plans this term either, though he insists he is upbeat over his future.

"My future is uncertain, but look where I am. I'm playing with the best squad in Europe and I have a fantastic opportunity. I will work and give my best for this club. I'm very content."

 

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Ancelotti 'evaluating' Modric and Kroos partnership

Carlo Ancelotti has admitted he is "evaluating" the midfield partnership between Luka Modric and Real Madrid new-boy Toni Kroos following the club's poor start to the season.

Madrid spent €20 million on bringing Kroos to the Santiago Bernabeu from Bayern Munich over the summer, while sanctioning the exit of Xabi Alonso in the opposite direction later in the transfer window.

That decision was greeted with widespread surprise and so far the partnership between Modric and the Germany star has failed to spark into life as the club have stumbled to two defeats in their opening three La Liga games."I do not think we need to change anything right now, but we are evaluating this," Ancelotti told reporters on Friday.

"We have many games until October 5 and we will rotate with both. There are players like Medran, who was with us in pre-season or Marcos Llorente, but the midfield is covered with (Asier) Illarramendi, Isco and Sami Khedira, who will return."

The former of that trio, Illarramendi, was signed from Real Sociedad last summer and seen as the eventual successor to Alonso's deep-lying midfield role, only to struggle for playing time under Ancelotti, despite the Italian insisting he remains a big fan of the Spaniard.

"I have confidence in him and I think he will improve as the season continues as he did last season."

 

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Simeone: Confidence high at Atleti

Diego Simeone hopes Atletico Madrid's derby win last weekend will stand them in good stead for Saturday's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo.

The Spanish champions secured bragging rights against city rivals Real Madrid courtesy of goals Tiago and Arda Turan but were beaten by Olympiakos in midweek in the Champions League.

Atleti now revert their attention to domestic matters and maintaining the unbeaten start to their title defence, with Simeone insistent his players will be brimming with confidence.

"I think after winning against Real the team's confidence will be high," he said on Friday."We will play in front of our fans again, against a very difficult rival who will make things difficult for us. We are looking forward to a good performance.

"This beginning of season will be difficult as there are many games to play."Simeone, who must do without Mario Mandzukic after the Croatia striker broke his nose in Greece, recently moved past 1000 days in charge of the club.

The Argentinian has won silverware including La Liga, the Europa League and the Copa del Rey while in charge and explained he was not surprised to still be with the club."To be honest I didn't count on it but I'm not surprised I've been around the last 1000 days," he added.

"The moment I arrived here I was as excited about this project as I am right now. I don't really stop and I enjoy everything we achieve."

 

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Xavi 'disappointed' in Del Bosque

Xavi has revealed he was left "disappointed" by Vicente del Bosque's decision not to play him at the World Cup after Spain's humiliating defeat to the Netherlands in their opening group stage game.

The Dutch ran out 5-1 winners to stun the then reigning world champions, with the Barcelona midfielder a major casualty of that defeat as he was overlooked in their remaining games in the competition.

He told CANAL+: "It was disappointing not to play against Chile. The coach asked me to stay another two years after Euro 2012 and to not play after the Netherlands match was a disappointment.”

The 34-year-old looked set to leave Barcelona in the summer transfer window but opted to stay on at Camp Nou and he revealed his thoughts behind that decision, as well as the rumours that saw him linked with Bayern Munich.“If it was down to me I would never leave Barcelona, but others are in charge," he added.

"I didn’t hear anything from Bayern. I have been leaving many times but in the end it has to be my feeling. I told the club I did not want to play for another team in Europe, I didn’t want to face Barcelona. I want to finish my career at Barcelona and then we’ll see what happens.”Xavi also admitted he is enjoying working under coach Luis Enrique - who replaced Gerardo Martino at the end of the season - in much the same way he did under Pep Guardiola.

“I have the same feeling as I did with Guardiola in 2008. He is a winner and a born leader.”

 

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Atletico dealt Mandzukic blow

Atletico Madrid could be without Mario Mandzukic for up to two weeks as he recovers from having surgery on a broken nose.

The Croatia striker suffered the injury after being elbowed in the faced by Olympiakos' Pajtim Kasami in the opening stages of Tuesday's Champions League contest.

Mandzukic was able to play on for the entire match and found the net as Atletico were beaten 3-2 in their Group A opener, but the club announced on Wednesday that he has been forced to undergo surgery.

"He's hoping to return to training on Sunday or Monday," club doctor Pedro Luis Llopis explained in quotes reported by AS."He trained the other day, before undergoing surgery which suggests how keen he is to get back with the squad.

"Under normal circumstances, a player with an injury like this would hope to be
back playing in 15 days but if he wears a protective mask, he should be able to play within 10 days."He will be issued a personalised mask, the smallest and most comfortable one possible, although it's always a little complicated to play whilst wearing one."

Mandzukic's estimated period of absence means he is scheduled to miss three La Liga games, with the Champions League match at home to Juventus on October 1 earmarked as a possible return date.

 

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Mazzarri urges Inter to continue good form in Palermo clash

Walter Mazzarri has warned his Inter side not to rest on their laurels ahead of Sunday's Serie A visit to Palermo .Inter have enjoyed a superb start to the campaign, winning four and drawing one of their five competitive fixtures without conceding a goal.Head coach Mazzarri witnessed his side embarrass Sassuolo 7-0 at San Siro last Sunday, with Mauro Icardi stealing the show with a hat-trick.

The Milan outfit followed that impressive showing by grinding out a 1-0 win at Dnipro in their UEFA Europa League Group F opener on Thursday, Danilo D'Ambrosio's 71st-minute strike doing the damage.Mazzarri is now preparing his side for a third match in the space of eight days when Inter travel to the Stadio Barbera Palermo to face Giuseppe Iachini's
recently-promoted side.

While Inter have impressed in the busy run, Mazzarri is keen for his side not to congratulate themselves too soon ahead of the clash with Palermo - a side he rates highly."We will have to recover quickly because we have a match against Palermo waiting," Mazzarri said. "It will not be easy, in the first two matches of the season Palermo have collected less points than they deserved."Iachini is a great coach and he's good at preparing the team. It's going to be a tough game."

With Inter facing a European campaign to go with their domestic commitments, Mazzarri is well aware that he will have to utilise his entire squad."We need everyone, everyone should feel like starters, in the hope of always having many commitments," he added. "This would mean that we are still in the running for the Europa League."

Mateo Kovacic (foot) and Yuto Nagatomo (knock) sat out the Dnipro fixture and the pair remain a doubt for the weekend.Palermo returned to the Italian top-flight last season after spending the 2013-14 campaign in Serie B, where they finished champions.

Thus far, Iachini's men have drawn 1-1 with Sampdoria and lost 2-1 at Verona and Inter are sure to start as favourites for Sunday's match.However, Palermo defender Sinisa Andjelkovic fancies his team to pull off an early upset.

"They [Inter] have no weaknesses," he told Corriere dello Sport . "We must study them in detail and repeat the performance levels shown against Sampdoria and Verona because, whatever people may say, we played well.

"Palermo need to be characters, without fear. Can we surprise Inter? Yes we can."
The last time the two sides met in Serie A, Palermo ran out 1-0 winners in April 2013.

 

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Guardiola warns of Hamburg backlash

Pep Guardiola says he expects a difficult challenge when Bayern Munich face Hamburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday.Die Roten visit the Imtech Arena on Saturday to face a side that has endured a week of turmoil after coach Mirko Slomka was sacked on Tuesday.

Slomka was immediately replaced by Hamburg's Under-23 coach Josef Zinnbauer, who is tasked with reviving a team that has taken just one point from their first three league games.

And Guardiola, whose players snatched a dramatic late 1-0 UEFA Champions League win over Manchester City on Wednesday, is wary of a backlash from their hosts.

"Hamburg is always one of the most important clubs in Germany and has a very aggressive team," he said."I expect a tough game. I remember when his [Zinnbauer] predecessor Slomka came to Hamburg, they had the first game against [Borussia] Dortmund and won 3-0."

With Bayern having been in action just three days earlier, Guardiola remains unsure how many of his first-choice players will face Hamburg, although the injured Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery, Thiago Alcantara, Javi Martinez and Holger Badstuber will not travel with the team.

Guardiola added: "I'll speak with my players, especially those who played on Wednesday. Afterwards, we decide."However, one player that is unlikely to feature is defender Mehdi Benatia, for whom the match with City represented his first since July.

There is better news surrounding winger Arjen Robben, though, with Guardiola hopeful that the Dutchman will be ready despite struggling with knee problems prior to Wednesday's clash."For Benatia it is probably too much to play a game every three days," Guardiola said. "Before the match against City he had not played in over two and a half months.

"Arjen trained well yesterday [Thursday]. I hope he is ready for the next games."

 

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Mourinho admits Real Madrid desire

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has suggested that he would jump at the chance to return to former club Real Madrid.

Mourinho spent three years in the hotseat at the Santiago Bernabeu between 2010-13, winning the 2012 Liga title and 2011 Copa del Rey.

However, a failure to secure a Champions League trophy - Real were eliminated in the semi-finals in all three of Mourinho's seasons in charge - ultimately cost the Portuguese coach his job.

Chelsea moved to bring Mourinho back to Stamford Bridge quickly and after a third-place finish in a campaign of transition last term, the Blues are red-hot favourites for this season's Premier League title.

Though expressing delight at fulfilling a career goal in securing league titles in England, Italy and Spain, Mourinho has suggested he has unfinished business in the Spanish capital.

He told TVI: "If I could go back today, would I go to Real Madrid? Yes. Clearly, yes.

"It was an experience as a coach and as a man, I would again repeat [my time there], without thinking twice.

"I left Real Madrid with a fantastic relationship with the president, the executive director and the entire club after making a decision which was best for my career.

"You won't hear me talk about what happened in the past, whether it be positive or negative.

"I am a happy man [at Chelsea], I am going to matches and training with great joy and I am not a person who likes to be talking about the past.

"This is the only time that I'm not thinking about the next stage of my career. Before I always thought about what would come next.

"I prefer it as a place to work and for my family and social life. I returned here because the club has a different project."

 

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Inzaghi: We have nothing to lose against Juventus

Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi says his team have nothing to lose in their Serie A clash with Juventus at San Siro on Saturday.

The Rossoneri have made a perfect start to the season so far, winning both their league games, and hope to continue that form after a disappointing last campaign in which they finished eighth and failed to qualify for Europe.

"It is a big game and I'm happy for my team. We have six points and we will play the game with nothing to lose," the 41-year-old explained.

"I repeated this idea to my team. We will play in a full San Siro and that could help us to succeed, to have the perfect match ... I do not know if this will happen, but we will give it our all."I'm not sure where we will finish, but I know where we started. We can not expect to be like [three-time defending Serie A champions] Juventus.

"We are no longer the Milan who could take to the field without worrying about the opposition, but in a one-off game we hope to make up for all this with our desire."The former striker, who featured for both clubs in an illustrious playing career, also talked about his side's recent progess.

"The results have given us confidence, but we are not perfect and we need to improve," he went on."We need to be happy but also aware of our problems ... I'm satisfied with the job and with the desire that we will improve further.

"We must try to keep up with Juventus. A win would be great for our morale - I can't wait for this game."The former Italy star also talked about his relationship with Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, who he previously worked under whilst playing at Milan.

"I've had some misunderstandings with Allegri, but these have always been clarified," he continued."From each coach who coached me, I learned something. Allegri prepares in a very technical way and will make life difficult.

"He has a great team and I wish him all the best - maybe after the game tomorrow night!", he added.

 

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Manchester City boss Pellegrini hits back at Yaya Toure criticism

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has hit back at criticism of Yaya Toure by insisting that his side’s performances are not solely influenced by the midfielder.

The 31-year-old was subdued during City’s 1-0 defeat at Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, while former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes believes Toure’s lack of defensive contribution has become a “major problem” for the Premier League champions .

"It is not fair for me to criticise what Yaya did in the last game. That is my way of thinking,” said Pellegrini.

"Normally, when we win or lose, it is because all the team played well or badly. Everyone knows which are the best performances of the players and we are trying to reach that level of performance for all of them as a team.

"I don’t agree that Yaya has [to shoulder] all the responsibility about the game we played. Yaya always has commitment with the team, the squad and with his team-mates. He does not have a problem."

Pellegrini also confirmed that Frank Lampard is in contention to face Chelsea on Sunday.

"Frank is part of our squad and tomorrow I will give the squad list for the game," said the Chilean.

"I am sure he will be involved in that. Frank didn't continue at Chelsea because Chelsea didn't want him.

"He couldn't continue playing for the team he played for all his life, but he has a right to carry on playing football and we are happy to have him."

 

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Platini surprised by Fifa action over watch gifts

Uefa president Michel Platini has hit out at Fifa for their attitude towards watches that were handed out as gifts by the Brazilian FA (CBF) at the World Cup this summer.In total, 65 Parmigiani timepieces, worth €20,000, were handed out to various delegates over the course of the summer, including Fifa Executive Committee members and representatives of national parties arriving at the competition.

However, on Thursday Fifa announced that such gifts contravened their rules and demanded they be returned by October 25.Platini, who announced in August that he would not run for the Fifa presidency, has responded by hitting out at both the timing and the manner of the announcement.

“In this case, I am surprised,” he said. “First, I am surprised at the value of the watch. And then I'm surprised by Fifa’s press release: if the Ethics Committee was not happy, they should have told us that four months ago when we received the watches. But it is only after an article in the British press that we are told via a press release: ‘You need to return these watches right now.’“I do not like the tone of Fifa and I'm surprised it’s happening.“I will find out the exact value of the watch and I’ll give that money to a charity, but I repeat, I’m surprised how Fifa have conducted this.”

Fifa has promised it will donate the gifts to groups that promoted corporate responsibility in Brazil.

 

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Manchester City cannot afford to lose to Chelsea - David Silva

Manchester City midfielder David Silva acknowledges that his side cannot afford to lose to Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday.

The Blues have made a blistering start to the season with four wins from as many matches, scoring 15 goals in the process.

New signing Diego Costa has already bagged seven league goals - four more than any other player - and they sit five points clear of champions City ahead of their meeting at the Etihad Stadium. Despite the early nature of the season, Silva is fully aware of the importance of avoiding defeat against Jose Mourinho's men.

"It is a very important game," he told the press on Thursday. "They are first in the league and have more points than us. We can't lose on Sunday and let that gap get any bigger so it is a very important game.

"It is early in this stage, it's still a long way to go in the Premier League and anything can happen [but] yes, we need to win on Sunday because otherwise the gap will start to get too big.

"I think Chelsea have made fantastic signings this year ... but we are a strong team. We've got a big team so as always we've got to go out there and win the game."

Silva was also unconcerned at City's start to the season, which has seen them take seven points from four matches, and believes that the 2013-14 campaign is proof that they can start slowly and still win the title.

"Loads of players have started late because of the World Cup and I think it takes time to be 100 per cent - which we are still not," he added.

"Last year we started the same and we ended up winning the title so hopefully this year it will be the same - a slow start and we end up winning."

 

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Bale: I could return to Tottenham one day

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale says he still has a great affinity for former club Tottenham and has hinted that he could return to north London in the future.

The Wales international sealed a world-record €100 million move to the Spanish capital last summer and has already won the Champions League, Copa del Rey and Uefa Super Cup during his time with Los Blancos.

Although Bale’s decision to force a move to Madrid angered many Spurs fans, the 25-year-old hopes they understand his decision to leave and he admits he would welcome a return to a club where he spent six happy years.

“I’ll never forget the great European nights at White Hart Lane. They were amazing,” Bale told BT Sport.

“Tottenham will always have a place in my heart. I hope the fans still love me even though I’ve moved on.

“I love Spurs fans; you never know, I could come back one day.”

He added: “I hope they understand that obviously Real Madrid is a massive, massive club and that they respect my decision.

“From the moment Madrid put the offer in it was difficult. [Tottenham] was somewhere I felt so comfortable and so happy.”

Bale scored 15 goals for Madrid last season, notably netting in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals against Barcelona and Atletico, respectively.

 

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Evra: Juventus will show Milan who's boss

while taking time out to praise young compatriot Kingsley Coman
Patrice Evra has declared that Juventus will show AC Milan why they are Serie A's reigning champions when the two sides collide on Saturday.

Both sides have collected six points from their opening two league games and Evra is determined to show the San Siro side that the Bianconeri remain the team to beat in Italy."Milan have home advantage but it’s down to us to show that we’re the champions and want to win," the former Manchester United full-back told his club's official website.

"It’s a difficult game, but I can’t wait to play. This was exactly the type of match I wanted to be involved in when I signed for Juventus."The Frenchman then went on to praise compatriot and team-mate Kingsley Coman, given the youngster's fine performances in the openings weeks of the 2014-15 season.

"Coman has really impressed me," Evra admitted. "When you’re a young player people tell you how good you are, but if you don’t have the right mentality you’ll never go anywhere.

"Kingsley, however, wants to work hard and has his feet on the ground. Besides, his dad has given me permission to get tough with him if he doesn’t listen."

 

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Wembley to host Euro 2020 final

Wembley Stadium has been chosen to host the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020, Uefa has announced.The London venue pipped Munich’s Allianz Arena to secure the finals package which formed part of the bidding process for the pan-European tournament.

National associations were welcomed to submit bids for either a standard package comprising three group games and a round of 16 or quarter-final fixture, or for the finals package.

Only Wembley and the Allianz Arena were put forward for the semi-final and final, and the success for the English FA means that the tournament decider l will be held in London for the first time since the original Wembley Stadium hosted the 1996 showpiece.

English FA chairman Greg Dyke met the news with joy, telling thefa.com: "I am delighted Wembley Stadium and London have been awarded the right to stage the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020.“It will be a great honour to be part of what will surely be a superb celebration of 60 years of the Uefa European Championship.

“My thanks go to all our partners in the bid – particularly the government, Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London – and of course to Uefa president Michel Platini and the Uefa Executive Committee.” It is understood that an agreement was reached between Germany and England that if Wembley was chosen as host for the 2020 final, the FA would not challenge for the 2024 finals tournament for which Germany is a clear favourite to host.

Munich, Baku, St Petersburg and Rome were chosen to each host three group stage fixtures and a quarter-final. Meanwhile, three group games and a round of 16 match will take place in Copenhagen, Bucharest, Amsterdam, Dublin, Bilbao, Budapest, Brussels and Glasgow.

The 2020 finals will mark the first occasion on which the European Championship has been held in more than two countries. The change from tradition is the brainchild of Uefa president Michel Platini, and has been arranged to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the continental tournament.

 

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I can feel Bayern's confidence in me, says Benatia

Bayern Munich defender Mehdi Benatia says that he has already adapted to his new surroundings following his summer move from Roma and that he feels the full confidence of the Bundesliga champions.The 27-year-old initially struggled to find his feet in Bavaria due to injury and language problems, but he insists that he is now feeling right at home at the Allianz Arena.

"It’s never easy when you start at a new club. On top of that there was speaking a new language and muscle problems. But I can feel the confidence the club has in me and I know I can help the team move forward," Benatia told the official Bayern website."I already feel at home. Since the day I arrived, everybody at the club has done all they can to make me feel welcome and part of the group."

Benatia made his official Bayern debut in their 1-0 Champions League win over Manchester City in midweek and he was delighted to make his first appearance at last."Every player dreams of being in the Champions League," the defender enthused. "It’s the biggest club competition of all.

"It’s even more special being there with Bayern, as Bayern are one of the biggest clubs in the world. I’m very proud of being in this team."

 

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Barcelona will always be bigger than Bayern, says Cruyff

Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff feels the Catalans will always be a bigger team than Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

Bayern and Barcelona have been two of the dominant forces of European football in recent years, with Bayern reaching three Champions League finals in the past five seasons, yet Cruyff believes the Camp Nou side will always be the bigger draw. "Globally, Barcelona are a bigger club than Bayern Munich," the former Blaugrana player and coach was quoted as saying by Bild.

"In South America for example, everybody is watching the Primera Division. Barcelona are much bigger than Bayern over there and that will always be the case."Former Bayern star Franz Beckenbauer has backed the Dutchman's opinion as he feels Barcelona have a greater history than the Bundesliga champions.

"I agree with Cruyff," the German admitted. "Barcelona are traditionally a leading team worldwide. Barcelona already had some legendary teams back in the 30s and 40s. Bayern only really came to the fore from 1965 on."Cruyff then argued that current Bayern boss Pep Guardiola is a better coach than Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

"Pep's ability to turn a con into a pro is typical for him as a coach," the Ajax legend stated. "He is one of the best coaches in the world for me."I have no doubt about it that Pep is better than Mourinho. Pep's aim is to improve football and get his team to the next level.

"Unlike Mourinho, he played in front of 100,000 fans. The game in general is important to him. For Mourinho, all that matters is his team, his qualities and his mentality."