Bayern stars wait on Guardiola’s decision

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola says club boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge “knows everything” about his future plans with an announcement on whether he is leaving at the end of the season expected Sunday.

“It’s not planned to push back that date”, said Rummenigge.

Manchester City would appear to be Guardiola’s most likely destination despite continued, and consistent, firm denials from the club that they are prepared to replace their manager Manuel Pellegrini.

“I had the opportunity to speak with him a month ago in Spain”, said the former Real Madrid man, as quoted by Manchester Evening News.

The 44-year-old says he will clarify his future at the club “next week” and was linked by the Daily Express and Spanish radio in November with a move to Manchester City after two-and-a-half years in the Bundesliga.

Bayern Munich Manager Pep Guardiola will next week announce that he will leave the Bundesliga defending champions at the end of the season, according to German media reports.

Ottmar Hitzfeld believes Carlo Ancelotti would be a good replacement for Pep Guardiola if he leaves Bayern Munich.

Bayern officials now appeared to be resigned to losing Guardiola and German sources suggest they have already sounded out three-time Champions League winning coach Ancelotti to replace him.

Hitzfeld, who retired from coaching following the 2014 World Cup, praised Guardiola as a “pioneer” and “revolutionist” who “created a new football” with a three centre-back defence.

“The players’ condition isn’t so great, because we’ve played a lot of games and have had few opportunities for turnover in recent weeks”, said Lahm.

“I’m fully focused on Hannover”.

But Manchester United will be eyeing him up as Louis van Gaal comes under more pressure, while Chelsea are preparing to pull the trigger on Jose Mourinho and may be tempted to wait until Guardiola becomes available.

“Players come and players go, coaches come and they also go at some point”.

Having struggled to a 2-0 league win over Ingolstadt last Saturday, Bayern laboured to a 1-0 German Cup win over Darmstadt on Tuesday to book their quarter-final place.