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Robben 'surprised' by Guardiola's appointment at Bayern Munich
Jan 20, 2013 11:10:00 AM
The Netherlands winger admits that he expected the former Barcelona boss to head to England but adds that his arrival in the summer can only be a positive step for the Bavarians
| Bet: | Returns: | Bayern £12.00 | Draw £60.00 | VfB Stuttgart £130.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bayern £11.70 | Draw £60.00 | VfB Stuttgart £100.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bayern £12.22 | Draw £60.00 | VfB Stuttgart £120.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bayern £11.80 | Draw £70.00 | VfB Stuttgart £150.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bayern £12.00 | Draw £65.00 | VfB Stuttgart £130.00 |
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Die Roten announced earlier this week that Guardiola would replace current coach Jupp Heynckes at the end of the season, ending speculation that the Spanish trainer might head to the Premier League after his sabbatical.
The move caught many unawares and Robben revealed that he was no exception when he spoke to reporters after Bayern's 2-0 win over Greuther Furth.
"I was surprised, also because it happened really quickly," said the 28-year-old Dutchman.
"One day before he signed I read that he was looking forward to working in the Premier League. A day later he signed at Bayern. It was surprising but good."
Bayern currently lead the Bundesliga by nine points from second-placed Bayer Leverkusen and several of Robben's team-mates, such as defender Daniel van Buyten, have stressed the team need to avoid being distracted by the news.
"We are proud, because he [Guardiola] is one of the best, maybe the best coach and he chose the best club," stated the Belgian.
"But this is in the future. Now we want to deliver a good second half of the season. We do not want to speak a lot about the future.''
This was a sentiment endorsed by Thomas Muller, who also stressed caution against over-optimism:
"Everyone says that Guardiola is good for the Bundesliga and FC Bayern," the Germany forward told journalists.
"But nobody knows how good the results will be."
The Bavarians have 45 points from their 18 league fixtures this campaign.
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
11:08 PM BST
Right, that's just about it from me, folks. Thank you so much for all your contributions. We hyped this one up. We said it was going to showcase everything that is great about German football. And you know what? It delivered. It was an absolutely absorbing final between the continent's top two sides, a fitting conclusion to what has been a fantastic tournament. Impossible not to feel so, so sorry for Dortmund but they need only to look at what Bayern have done tonight, lifting the trophy just 12 months after throwing it away, to see that it's possible to bounce back from this kind of devastation.
But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.
But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.
11:00 PM BST
Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp has finally faced the press and, judging by his comments, is a tad upset with perhaps something other than the final scoreline.
"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.
"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."
"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.
"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."
10:56 PM BST
Sir Alex Ferguson also has a new job... Well, kind of. The former Manchester United boss was entrusted with the honour of presenting the man of the match award after the game and relished the task: "It's my first job since I retired and it's a pleasure!"
Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.
Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.
10:51 PM BST
Heynckes, class act that he is, was also quick to empathise with a devastated Dortmund.
"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.
"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.
"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."
"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.
"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.
"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."
10:48 PM BST
And finally we get to hear from Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes, who will be replaced by Pep Guardiola this summer.
The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!
"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."
The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!
"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."
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