SYMPATHY FOR HEYNCKES

The Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer has said that he has sympathy for the manager Jupp Heynckes, who has been extremely irritated by the media in recent weeks.

The 67-year-old manager will be stepping down from his role at the end of the season. The club have announced that the former Barcelona manager Guardiola will be taking over as the manager next season. This is an astounding victory for the German club given that Guardiola has been courted by some of the biggest clubs in the world. Hence, there is a lot of media attention on the arrival of Guardiola next season.

This has gone to such an extent that the current manager's position has been undermined a lot in recent weeks. This has led to the displeasure shown by the manager Heynckes. Beckenbauer has said that he can understand the frustration of Heynckes because his current team are not getting the attention and the praise they deserve. Heynckes has been able to guide the club to the top of the table and they have a nine-point advantage over the second placed Leverkusen. Beckenbauer was in charge of the Bayern Munich team in two spells. He has acknowledged that Guardiola faces a tough challenge at Bayern Munich than at Chelsea.

"Definitely! Jupp puts up a winning streak like never before - and then the talk is only of Guardiola. That would annoy me too. Bayern are a greater challenge for Guardiola than Chelsea. We have no (Roman) Abramovich (the English club's billionaire owner). In Bavaria there is also the chance for Guardiola to improve something. We need fast switching play, to hold the majority of possession, put the opponent under constant pressure," said Beckenbauer regarding the frustration shown by Heynckes, and also the challenges faced by Guardiola at the club next season.