Flick reveals clear-the-air talks at Bayern Munich | Football News – Times of India

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BERLIN: Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick revealed he has had clear-the-air talks with the club’s sports director Hasan Salihamidzic amid reports of simmering tensions between the pair.
Holders Bayern cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday as a 2-1 home win over Lazio sealed a 6-2 aggregate win in their last 16 tie.
Bayern are in the last eight of the Champions League for a record 19th time in the competition’s history.
Off the field, there is said to be a power struggle brewing between Flick and Salihamidzic.
Flick said the pair met to settle their difference on Wednesday.
“We both approached each other and sorted it out in the best interests of the club. It was a short conversation and we are very optimistic for the future,” said the Bayern coach.
Flick said the talks were important for “both of us, for the team and the club”.
Bayern are four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and into the last eight in Europe on an unbeaten run of 19 Champions League matches spanning two years.
Yet midfielder Joshua Kimmich admitted tension between the club’s bosses was an unwelcome distraction for the players.
“Of course, you hear what is written and discussed externally,” Kimmich told Sky after the win over Lazio.
“At the end of the day, with the success we’re having right now, it would be nicer if things were calm and we didn’t give internal fuel to the outside world.
“But it doesn’t put much of a strain on us as a team. On the field, you don’t notice any unrest from the outside.”
Flick has also been heavily linked to the role of Germany head coach with Joachim Loew set to step down after this summer’s European championships.
Flick was Loew’s assistant coach when Germany won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
One of the reported disagreements between Flick and Salihamidzic was over the amount of game time given to reserve goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel.
The 24-year-old is said to have been signed from Schalke on a free transfer with an offer by Salihamidzic of at least ten appearances for Bayern per season.
However, Nuebel made only his third start all season in Wednesday’s home win over Lazio as first-choice Manuel Neuer was sidelined with a cold.
Nuebel is said to be chasing a loan spell at French side Monaco.

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Lewandowski landmark goal helps Bayern to 3-1 win at Werder | Football News – Times of India

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BREMEN (Germany): Bayern Munich cruised to a 3-1 victory at Werder Bremen on Saturday with striker Robert Lewandowski climbing to second place in the Bundesliga‘s all-time scorers list as the champions opened up a five-point lead at the top.
The 32-year-old Lewandowski, the 2020 FIFA World Player, twice hit the woodwork early in the second half before tapping in for to make it 3-0 and join Klaus Fischer on 268 Bundesliga goals, second on the all-time scorers list only to Gerd Mueller and his astonishing 365-goal record.
The Bavarians, who welcome Lazio for their Champions League Round of 16 second leg on Wednesday, were never troubled by the hosts, and Leon Goretzka headed them into the lead in the 22nd minute.
Thomas Mueller then delivered his 13th assist of the season in the 35th for Serge Gnabry to slot in.
Lewandowski, who has also played for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, was determined to join them on the score sheet after the break. But in the 54th and then 58th minute, he hit the woodwork, and twice more Werder keeper Jiri Pavlenka denied him with superb saves.
But a lucky bounce from a Kingsley Coman cross in the 67th allowed the Poland forward to tap in from close range and take his league tally this season to 32 goals, one step closer to Gerd Mueller’s league record of 40 goals in a season dating back to the 1971/72 campaign.
Lewandowski hit the post a third time in the 78th minute and Niclas Fuellkrug scored a late goal for the hosts as Bayern moved up to 58 points, with second-placed RB Leipzig, on 53, in action against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
VfL Wolfsburg climbed to third spot on 48 points with a 5-0 demolition of basement club Schalke 04.

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Struggling Schalke held at home by Mainz on Dimitrios Grammozis’ debut | Football News – Times of India

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BERLIN: Bundesliga bottom side Schalke were held to a goalless draw at home to fellow strugglers Mainz on Friday as the hosts’ new coach Dimitrios Grammozis earned a point in his first game.
Grammozis was named Schalke’s fifth head coach this season on Tuesday and his contract until June 2022.
However, the second season of that deal looks likely to be in the second division unless he can turn results around.
This is his first coaching job in the Bundesliga.
The 42-year-old Greek-German now has ten games left to bridge the eight-point gap needed to get Schalke off the bottom and out of the relegation places.
Schalke have won just one league game all season and are on course to be relegated after 30 consecutive years in Germany’s top flight.
The away point moved Mainz up one place to 16th and level on 18 points with Arminia Bielefeld and Hertha Berlin who are all fighting relegation.
Mainz, who earned a shock win over Moenchengladbach a fortnight ago, peppered the Schalke goal with 19 shots on target, while the hosts managed just two.
Their best chance came eight minutes from time when 20-year-old striker Jonathan Burkardt forced a stunning reflex save from Schalke goalkeeper Frederik Roennow.
Former Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi came closest for Schalke when his powerful header ricocheted of the legs of Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner after only 18 minutes.
Schalke were dealt a blow before kick-off when playmaker Amine Harit dropped out with an injury.

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