Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness spoke about his respect for Jurgen Klopp, revealing the Liverpool manager almost took over at the Bundesliga giants in 2008.
The Premier League side will host Bayern in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.
But Hoeness said things could have been different, with Klopp an option for Bayern 11 years ago, when they instead opted for Jurgen Klinsmann as the Reds boss left Mainz for Borussia Dortmund.
Personally, I have a high opinion of Jurgen Klopp, he told reporters.
Day one tactical drills
Time for a post-training competitive game of foot-tennis
Firmino and Lijnders VS Klopp and Mane!
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
Many years ago we agreed on a collaboration to…
Arne Slot maintained his perfect start as Liverpool head coach as the Reds ran riot in a resounding 3-0 victory over rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Luis Diaz’s header handed the visitors the advantage 10 minutes before half-time, after Trent Alexander-Arnold had seen a potential early opener chalked off following a VAR review.
Diaz then doubled his tally seven minutes later with a low finish into the bottom corner after being picked out by an intricate pass from Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian scored against United in the Premier League for the 12th time after the break, Liverpool punishing yet another mistake from the Red Devils midfield to add some gloss to the scoreline.
The triumph sees Liverpool join Manchester City as the only two sides wit…
Gabriel Jesus scored a late double as Manchester City landed a 21st straight win and matched their club-record unbeaten run with a 4-1 defeat of Wolves at the Etihad Stadium.
Conor Coady s first Premier League goal brought Wolves level just after the hour mark, with Leander Dendoncker s own goal having given City an early lead.
Aymeric Laporte had a goal ruled out for offside, but Jesus struck 10 minutes from time and Riyad Mahrez added a third in stoppage time.
Jesus netted his second right at the end following a VAR check for offside as City took another stride towards regaining the title, going 15 points clear of second-placed Manchester United ahead of the derby on Sunday. They are unbeaten in 28 games now, equalling a run set in 2017, and a cut above a…
Freddie Ljungberg is confident Arsenal have the quality to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League despite only managing a draw at lowly Norwich City in his first game at the helm.
Ljungberg was promoted to take temporary charge of the Gunners following the sacking of Unai Emery on Friday.
In the former Sweden international s maiden outing on Sunday, Arsenal twice fought back with goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as they battled to a 2-2 draw at Carrow Road.
Arsenal, sitting eighth, are seven points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, but when asked if they can make the Champions League places Ljungberg, who won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups with the Gunners, replied: 100 per cent .
People drop points here and there, we drop p…
Best Odds: 1/2
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Hoping to mark their return from the festive break with a Bundesliga statement, RB Leipzig will welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to the Red Bull Arena on Saturday afternoon.
RB Leipzig
Starting with the hosts, while RB Leipzig might have been disappointed after signing off 2023 with a 1-1 stalemate against Werder Bremen, Marco Rose’s men were enjoying a bright Bundesliga flurry over the final few weeks. Although the Red Bulls might already be seeking a real miracle in their bid to claim a maiden top-flight crown, the former Borussia Dortmund boss has seen his squad lose just one of their previous seven Bundesliga appearances. With their domestic romp highlighted by a 3-2 victory away at Dortmund back on December 9th, Leipzig will certainl…
Prediction: Match to end in 2-2 draw
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Mexico and France will face each other in Group A at the Tokyo Olympics. The match will be held in Chofu and is scheduled to kick off at 9am on Thursday.
Mexico
The Mexico Under-23 side won the football competition at the Olympics in London in 2012. El Tri won the final against Brazil at Wembley Stadium in London. However, the Mexicans failed to make much of note at the 2016 Olympics and could not even make it past the group stage. They will be looking to progress from Group A to the knockout rounds.
Team News:
Real Betis winger Diego Lainez will start for Mexico. Guillermo Ochoa should be in goal.
France
France are a super power in football, but Les Bleus really do not ha…
Dijon have announced the appointment of former Paris Saint-Germain boss Antoine Kombouare as their new head coach.
Kombouare, who coached PSG between 2009 and 2011, was sacked by Guingamp last November with the club bottom of Ligue 1.
But he has been given a route back into management by Dijon, also battling relegation, as a replacement for Olivier Dall Oglio.
Kombouare officially takes charge from Friday and he will be in the dugout for Dijon s Ligue 1 game at home to Montpellier on Sunday, having signed a deal to the end of the season.
The 55-year-old has also coached clubs including Strasbourg, Valenciennes, Al Hilal and Lens during his managerial career.
Dijon are 18th in the table having won only once in the league, a 2-1 win against Guin…
Barry Robson has been sacked as manager of Aberdeen, with the team eighth in the Scottish Premiership table.
The 45-year-old has departed along with his assistant Steve Agnew following the 1-1 draw with Dundee at Pittodrie on Tuesday.
He led the club to a third-placed finish last season and qualification for the Europa Conference League but managed only one win in his last five league games in charge.
The club said in a statement that results and performances this season had “been well below the expectations set”.
Aberdeen Football Club has this morning parted company with manager Barry Robson and his assistant Steve Agnew.
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC)
“Although it has been a difficult call, the board felt the change was necessary …
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino said he is not settled by ongoing Manchester United rumours.
Pochettino has been heavily linked with Premier League giants United, who are eyeing a long-term manager following the interim appointment of Ralf Rangnick until the end of the season.
Reports have claimed Pochettino is interested in returning to England, where he previously guided Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, having also worked for Southampton.
Ligue 1 leaders PSG have been criticised for their performances this season following a 1-1 draw at Lens, while speculation has claimed Lionel Messi has grown unhappy with Pochettino s approach.
But as PSG prepare for Tuesday s Champions League fixture with Club Brugge, Pochettino insist…
Lionel Messi has every right to be p****d off at being questioned over his relationship with Antoine Griezmann, according to Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman.
Griezmann s former representative Eric Olhats last week suggested the Barca captain has played a significant role in the France star s struggles at Camp Nou.
Messi was asked about the remarks after landing at El Prat Airport on Wednesday, having represented Argentina in a couple of World Cup qualifiers over the international break.
I m a little tired of always being the problem for everything at the club, he said.
Messi s comments come at a time when he continues to be linked with a move away from Barca, but Koeman insisted it is not fair on his player to be constantly questioned.
I can…