Lewandowski: I'm going to Bayern to win titles

The Polish striker is leaving Borussia Dortmund for the Allianz Arena this summer and is hoping his medal collection will grow in Bavaria

Borussia Dortmund forward Robert Lewandowski says his move to Bayern Munich is motivated by his desire to win trophies.

The Polish striker is quitting Signal Iduna Park after a successful four year spell with Jurgen Klopp's side which saw him win two Bundesliga titles and one DFB-Pokal.

However, the Bavarian club have won the league and cup for the last two seasons and Lewandowski is looking to expand his medal collection at the Allianz Arena.

"It is my goal to win and collect big titles," he told Bild. "At Bayern, for sure the opportunity is bigger."

Bayern beat BVB 2-0 in the Pokal final on Saturday and Lewandowski admitted that he was disappointed not to sign off with a title at Dortmund.

"After the game, it hurt a lot. I just wanted to leave Dortmund with a title. We won the Bundesliga twice, the cup once and reached the Champions League final.

"It was a beautiful time, I won't forget it. But it was the right time to take the next step."

Despite his exit, the 25-year-old is backing Dortmund to be successful in the future.

"I expect a lot [of them]. When a good player leaves, Dortmund were always able to buy new players. They will manage it again. You can count on Dortmund - I'm sure.

Heineken - The Final, UEFA Champions League Commercial 2014

'I'm just a kid trying to play football' - Neymar plays down Pele comparisons

The Barcelona star says he is ready to cope with the pressure on his shoulders at the World Cup this summer and has distanced himself from "the king of football"

Barcelona and Brazil star Neymar has insisted that he is not worthy of comparisons with legendary compatriot Pele.

Both players came through the ranks at Santos as wonderkids and Pele went on to help deliver three World Cup titles during his illustrious careers.

Neymar will try to emulate the 73-year-old this summer when Brazil plays host to the tournament but does not want to be compared to his country's all-time record scorer.

"For me it is a pleasure to be compared to a great player like Pele," he told the Wall Street Journal.

"But he is the king of football. I am just a boy who wants to play football."

Neymar insists he is ready to cope with the pressure this summer as Brazil look to win the World Cup for the first time since 2002.

"We suffer pressure in all the things we do," he continued. "It's normal in the life of an athlete, but if you're an athlete the pressure is bigger because you're an example for many people.

"I suffer presure since I decided to become a player, but it's a pleasure to play a World Cup in my country to my people.

"Football is in the soul of the Brazilian people."

Mourinho: We don't need many new signings

The Blues are expected to bring in several new faces this summer after a disappointing season but the Portuguese admits the World Cup in Brazil could delay their efforts

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has said his team don't require too many new additions this summer and suggests they will wait until after the World Cup before making any moves.

The Portuguese is keen to bolster his squad this summer after falling short in the Premier League and Champions League, and earlier this month Goal revealed Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has agreed to move to Stamford Bridge in a €43 million deal.


But with many transfer targets pre-occupied with this summer's tournament in Brazil, Mourinho admits it could be some time before Chelsea have any new faces to unveil, but said there won't be too many brought in.
"Since the market will be open until August 31, like it is, I think it will be more of the same," he told Sky Sports News.
"I think people [will] wait for the World Cup, wait for the first reaction of the first team, wait until after something happens.
"At Chelsea, the manager is the same, the basic structure of the team is the same, we don't need the season to finish and the results of the season [to] make the decisions about what we need and what we don't need," he added.
"Everything was done during the season. We knew perfectly what we wanted and I don't think we have huge work to do during the summer really.

Transfer Zone

Roma want Kolarov

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Roma boss Rudi Garcia has reportedly requested new players for the right and left flanks of his team. Manchester City's Aleksandar Kolarov and Moanco's Layvin Kurzawa are said to be high up on his wishlist.

Source: Corriere dello Sport
Friday, May 16, 2014 8:15 AM

Liverpool target Emre Can

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Reports in Germany suggest the Reds are interested in signing the 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder. Inside of Germany, only Bayern has the power to buy the youngster due to a clause in his contract.

Guardiola drops Mandzukic for Pokal final

The Bayern Munich coach will make do without the services of the striker against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, allegedly for a disciplinary issue

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Mario Mandzukic has been left out of his squad for the DFB-Pokal final with Borussia Dortmund.

The Croatian has played a key role for the Bavarians this season, scoring 26 goals in all competitions for the German champions.

However, he has clashed with the Catalan before - when he was excluded from the team in January - and has been dropped ahead of the Olympiastadion clash, allegedly over a disciplinary issue.

"He would have been able to play. But it is my decision and that's it," the Spaniard told reporters.

Additionally, Bastian Schweinsteiger has been ruled out as he is still nursing knee problems.

The coach said: "He was not able to train this week. Schweinsteiger is injured. I hope he can travel to the World Cup in Brazil. But I am no doctor."

Guardiola went on to say that he is eager to cap his first season in the Bundesliga with further success, having already won the European Super Cup, the Club World Cup and the Bundesliga.

"I'm very proud of what we've achieved so far this season. We're ready to take on Dortmund. I'm really looking forward to this final."

Bayern and Dortmund kick off in Berlin at 20:00CET on Saturday

it would be 'very wrong' to expect too much of Barkley - Martinez

The 20-year-old has been called up to England's World Cup squad, but his domestic manager feels fans must embrace his potential rather than demand top performances

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has urged fans to lower their expectations of England midfielder Ross Barkley at the World Cup.

Barkley, 20, was rewarded for his strong Premier League campaign at Everton with selection in Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad for the summer tournament.

But Martinez warned it would be dangerous to expect too much of Barkley, who joined the likes of Raheem Sterling, Luke Shaw and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in a youthful England squad.

"We shouldn't expect Ross Barkley, at the age of 20, to go into a World Cup and be someone who has to win games single-handedly. That would be very wrong," he told reporters.

"What is important is, as a nation, we have a responsibility to look after a young man who goes to the World Cup with the only intention of helping England be as good as they can.

"He is still young and we have to protect him. If we protect him well we are talking about a potential world-class talent.

"But it is down to us to allow him time and a little bit of a path to fulfil his potential with England.

"My message to every English fan and supporter in general is that we should embrace the younger generation - and it is phenomenal to have that - who have been called up by the England manager.

"But we have to understand we carry a responsibility of allowing the young players to have a positive experience, whatever that is.