(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Bayern Munich's coach Jupp Heynckes said yesterday that Qatar hosting 2022 FIFA World Cup was a ‘smart move'. The veteran manager was speaking at a press conference at the Aspire Zone in Doha where the Bundesliga leaders are on a winter training camp.
He described the weather conditions in Qatar at this time of the year as ideal and said his players will return to Germany energised and motivated. Heynckes praised the training camp in Aspire Zone, highlighting how his players have access to world class facilities and all their needs catered to.
Heynckes said there had been no contact between Bayern Munich and Chelsea over Arturo Vidal and the Chilean international would not be sold during the January transfer window. He was responding to media reports over a possible transfer of the midfielder, which Heynckes dismissed as ‘pure speculation'.
'Certainly, there's been no contact between the clubs, Heynckes said. 'It's just speculation. Arturo Vidal is very motivated, he's a top player and we need him at his very best if Bayern is to play well. We won't sell any players in the (transfer) window, he added.
Media reports in Britain and South America had linked the 30-year-old with a move to London in order to reunite with Chelsea coach Antonio Conte, who he played under at Juventus. But Heynckes ruled out any such move. English champions Chelsea have already been busy in the January transfer window, snapping up Ross Barkley from Everton for a fee, reported to be in the region of £15mn.
Bayern, who lead the Bundesliga by 11 points from Schalke 04, arrived in World Cup 2022 host Qatar on January 2. They will played a friendly against Qatari league side Al-Ahli, which they won 6-0 yesterday, before returning to Germany today.
Bayern resume Bundesliga duties on January 12, when they play away to fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen. Heynckes, 72, is in his fourth stint at the club after Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and president Uli Hoeness turned to their 2013 treble-winning coach following the dismissal of Carlo Ancelotti in September last year. Bayern promptly won nine of their ten following matches.
Bayern beat Al Ahli 6-0
In the friendly match against Al Ahli last night, Sandro Wagner celebrated his return to Bayern with a goal as German champions cruised into a 6-0 win. The striker opened the scoring and further second half goals came from Corentin Tolisso, Arjen Robben, Kingsley Coman, Niklas Dorsch and Niklas Süle.
Heynckes used two different teams in each half in the friendly. Only Tolisso completed the 90 minutes, playing in the unaccustomed centre-forward position in the second half. The only players not to feature were Robert Lewandowski and Mats Hummels (recovering from injuries) and Joshua Kimmich (ill).
Bayern quickly created chances against the team sitting sixth in the QNB Stars League. Wagner in particular was the focal point and in fact powered a header against the frame of the goal within the first minute. He was then foiled on three occasions by Al Ahli goalkeeper Yazan Naim. An effort from James Rodriguez was also cleared off the line with 15 minutes on the clock.
Wagner finally broke through after a dozen FCB efforts when he headed past Naim on 38 minutes. There were further chances for James and Thomas Müller to extend the lead before the break but it remained a one-goal difference at half-time.
Tolisso doubled the lead with yet another header seven minutes after the restart. The Reds then turned the screw with a well-placed effort from outside the box by Robben, a volley from Coman and a rifled effort from Dorsch. A header from Süle at a corner did round off the game in the dying minutes to make it 6-0 to the German champions in their only match at their training camp in Doha.
MENAFN0601201800670000ID1096318674
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.