Bayern Bits

By: Angela | April 22nd, 2008

Mark celebrates with the DFB Pokal Trophy First of all lets all collectively sing a very happy birthday song to my favorite Mark van Bommel as he celebrates his 31st birthday!

Continuing on with my favorite Dutchman, in the Pokal cup Mark picked up an injury. More precisely, a broken nose. He was advised by Munich physicians to undergo surgery, but has declined due to the match on Thursday. He does not want to miss the match and will play with a face guard if necessary. He has taken full responsibility for the decision. He’s even sporting a shiny bruise in the picture already.

Miroslav Klose is an injury worry. He was unable to take part in today’s training and his fitness for Thursday’s game is questionable. Lukas Podolski was set to take Luca Toni’s spot alongside Miro due to Toni being suspended. The question now becomes who will team up with Podolski out front. Klose is suffering from an inflammation in his right foot.

Demichelis is still fighting to play in the Olympics. “First I will try to come to an amicable agreement with the club, but if that doesn’t work I will have to try another approach,” he told Radio Del Plata. “I will do anything to be in Beijing; I am very thankful for the confidence that the national team has in me. I have already missed out on a World Cup and I don’t want something similar to happen again because it would almost certainly have a psychological effect on me, and Bayern must realise this.” I realize that this is important for most players, but I can’t help thinking he needs to remember that the Bundesliga season will be under way and which team signs his checks. Am I the only one that thinks that?

Jan Schlaudraff has made his move away from Bayern. He has signed a four year contract with Hannover 96. “I am sure that Hannover has good prospects for the coming years and hope personally that I can develop further as a player under coach Hecking.”

ZDF is courting Oliver Kahn. They would like for Kahn to be an expert commentator for German national team matches once he retires at the end of this year. Kahn has said they are in talks. ZDF has only pointed the reporters to a press conference to be held on Friday.

According to The Daily Mail Chelsea’s sporting director Frank Arnesen is prepared to launch a minimum £20 million bid for Franck Ribery. They are interested enough that both Frank Arnesen and trainer Rainer Bonhof came to the cup final to watch Ribery play. Rumor has it that they are prepared to offer more if necessary. Bayern have said they will not let him or Toni go at the end of this season.