Pep Guardiola has stated no Bayern Munich player wants to join Manchester United despite the deposed champions having been interested in Thomas Müller, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Arjen Robben and Toni Kroos during the summer.
Speaking ahead of Bayern's meeting with Manchester City in the Champions League opening group game in Bavaria on Wednesday evening, Guardiola was asked about United's interest in Müller, Schweinsteiger and Robben.
When it was put to the Spaniard that he may have had to say “no” more than once to Louis van Gaal, the United and former Bayern manager, Guardiola said none of his squad was interested and that the 20-times champions did not have the funds to buy any of them.
“They didn’t have enough money. I saw they spent a lot of money,” the coach said of United’s €190m-plus close-season outlay. “It’s good for my friend Louis. It’s part of the game. All of the clubs in the world want the players of another club. It depends on the player. If the player wants to play he will play. If he wants to stay he will stay. Manchester wants these kinds of players.”
United are not in this season’s Champions League for the first time since 1995-96 season, after finishing seventh under David Moyes. “Its a good lesson for the big clubs,” said Guardiola. “They think: ‘We are unbeatable and strong’ and they are not here. Maybe the next season they are out. That’s why football is magnificent. Every single week you have to be ready. Every week you have got to show you are ready.”
Guardiola will be without Franck Ribery for the crucial Group E opener against City due to an unspecified problem, and Arjen Robben is a doubt due to a knee issue.
“Ribery is definitely not (playing), he’s at home. He has to go to doctors and they told me he cannot play, that’s all,” said Guardiola. “Arjen could play – we will try.”
Bayern are also without Schweinsteiger, Javi Martínez, Thiago Alcantara, Holger Badstuber and Rafinha as all have various injuries, but captain Philipp Lahm attempted to shrug off the absences.
“It’s been difficult as people came late after the World Cup,” he said. “We have had injured players, et cetera. It’s not the best but we have to accept the challenge. We are at home. We are not afraid and are not concerned. I think we are going to win.”
Lahm has now retired from international football, having led Germany to the World Cup so the European Cup is a priority. “Its always been special,” he said. “You play against the best. There is nothing bigger. If you win it you can play the World Club Cup. It’s great to play here in the stadium. When I played my first game here in the Champions League it was just the same as it is now.”
Jerome Boateng, who should face City and was also a member of the triumphant Germany team, said: “After the World Cup a lot changed. We are really happy we can hit ground running again. This is a great game and great opponent.”
Guardian Service
