Bayern want to emulate Barcelona, says Rummenigge

The club's chairman is desperate to follow in the footsteps of the Catalans and win the Champions League on a more regular basis

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge hopes Bayern Munich can emulate Barcelona by becoming the dominant force in the Champions League over a number of years.
The Bundesliga champions have won European club football's elite competition five times, but it took them 25 years after their third win to lift the trophy again, before they had to endure another 12-year wait for their fifth glorious campaign.
Barcelona on the other hand have won the Champions League three times in the past decade and FCB chairman Rummenigge aims to become as consistent as the Catalans.
"I want to win the Champions League another time. Barcelona have always been an example for me because they won the Champions League a number of time within just a few years," Rummenigge told Bild.
"It's one of my dreams to shorten the gap between two of our Champions League wins.
"We have had some lengthy spells without winning it. We had to wait for 25 years until we won it again in 2001 and then 12 more years for the next win.
"Bayern want to have a theoretical chance at winning the trophy each and every year.
"We have to keep improving our squad year after year."
The Bavarians made it to the semi-finals of the competition last season and have already booked their place in the knockout stages this term after securing top spot in Group E.

Pogba already better than Platini, claims Raiola

The player's representative says the midfielder has the same characteristics as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and will win the Ballon d'Or more than once

Mino Raiola feels Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is already a better player than Bianconeri icon Michel Platini ever was and has little doubt his client will go on to win the Fifa Ballon d'Or at some point in the future.
The 21-year-old won the prestigious Golden Boy award last year as the best player in the world under the age of 21 and is one of 23 players to have made the shortlist for the 2014 Ballon d'Or and Raiola has little doubt the Frenchman is destined for greatness.
"Paul is already better than Platini. He scores and acts like a playmaker. He can play as central midfielder and in the No.10 position," Pogba's agent told Radio Rai.
"We are talking about a midfielder who is physically strong and tactically aware. He is a modern and complete player. I might be biased, but I'm not wrong.
"Pogba has the same characteristics as [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic. Even if we are living in the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul will win the Ballon d'Or more than once."
The powerful midfielder has been a key figure for Juventus this season, scoring four goals in 14 appearances in all competitions.

Debate: Are Real Madrid right to complain about Platini's Ronaldo snub?

After the Spanish club publicly rebuked the Uefa president for expressing his view that a German player should win the Ballon d'Or, two of Goal's writers debate the issue

On Friday, Real Madrid issued a statement condemning Michel Platini after the Uefa president had earlier this week expressed his opinion that a German World Cup-winner, and not Cristiano Ronaldo, should claim the 2014 Ballon d’Or.

Madrid’s statement read: "Firstly, we are surprised at the repeated comments regarding his [Platini’s] personal preferences over the choice of winner of the Ballon d'Or, particularly given that he is the head of European football's principal body, where our understanding is that the strictest impartiality should prevail.

"Secondly, the Ballon d'Or is an individual rather than collective prize which is awarded annually to the best player in the world, and we believe that, in order to maintain its prestige, those who participate in the vote should take into account exclusively the individual professional achievements of the players.

"Finally, we believe that Cristiano Ronaldo has without doubt had his best ever professional year individually and he is deserving of the Ballon d'Or."

The coach of the European champions, Carlo Ancelotti, also hit out at Platini during his pre-match press conference on Friday, insisting it is wrong for the president to voice his opinion on who deserves the award.

So are Madrid right to be unhappy with the former France international star? Two of Goal’s writers go head-to-head on the issue.

"PLATINI HAS FURTHER DAMAGED BALLON D'OR CREDIBILITY"

By Carlo Garganese

Public confidence in the selection process for the Fifa Ballon d’Or has never been lower. Over the last few years there has been clear favouritism towards certain players and clubs – particularly Barcelona who have made up 10 of the last 15 podium places.

It is very difficult for many football fans to take the award seriously given some of the inexplicable omissions in recent times – from Wesley Sneijder in 2010 to Arjen Robben last year.

The underlying feeling is that the Ballon d’Or has become a political prize, which are backed up by the views expressed this week by last year’s bronze medallist Franck Ribery.

"I learned a lot during last year's Ballon d'Or gala. As soon as I got there, I told my wife that I would lose," he told Sport Bild.

"There is a lot of politics. I saw how Sepp Blatter was hugging Ronaldo and how his entire family was there. I'm not stupid. It was clear that he had to win it. He wouldn't have brought his entire family with him otherwise.”

This latest storm is not really about Ronaldo or Madrid, it is about ethics. While the Ballon d’Or is a Fifa award, someone with as much political influence as the president of Uefa should not be publicly revealing his personal favourite. The head of any governing body must be 100 per cent neutral at all times.

Could you imagine the uproar if the chairman of the Football Association stated that he wanted Manchester United to win the Premier League? It would bring the English game into disrepute.

Just as it did the Italian game in 2009 when then Italy coach Marcello Lippi tipped Juventus to win the Scudetto. "A man with great institutional responsibility should not take sides," slammed then Inter boss Jose Mourinho.

And he was right. Platini has scored a spectacular own goal and only provided more fuel for the critics of the Ballon d’Or, as well as those of Uefa and Fifa.

"MADRID ARE PLAYING THEIR OWN POLITICAL GAMES"

By Stefan Coerts

Real Madrid are making a mountain out of a molehill. There is no agenda - Michel Platini was simply expressing a harmless personal opinion which will have no bearing whatsoever on the final vote.
Just because he is president of Uefa, why should he keep quiet? We live in a world where freedom of speech is one of the greatest gifts to man and it is surely better anyway that public figures are open and transparent with their views - especially given the mistrust in Uefa and Fifa today.

Last year, Sepp Blatter was disrespectful towards Ronaldo when he described him as a "commander" who likes to go to the hairdresser, but Platini's comments don't even mention Ronaldo or Madrid - nor do they discredit the award itself.

Platini was merely highlighting the importance of the World Cup and how it should weigh heavily in the outcome of the Ballon d’Or vote. He said the same four years ago - and his words had no impact as Lionel Messi took the prize.

Strangely enough, nobody at Madrid felt compelled to complain in 2010 when Platini stated that a Spanish player should win the award. Was it because Iker Casillas was a contender that year?

Madrid are simply using Platini's words as leverage to promote and placate a player who can sulk and strop when he doesn't get his own way. Before Brazil 2014, Ronaldo appeared to be the only candidate to win the Ballon d’Or. Germany’s World Cup win and Lionel Messi’s recent scoring spree have changed the landscape, though.

It is no longer a foregone conclusion that Ronaldo will emerge victorious on January 12 – so Madrid have gone into public relations overdrive. Last year they had every reason to be upset with Blatter. This time, however, they are just playing their own politics.

Mourinho: Ballon d'Or is bad for football

The Chelsea boss criticised the obsession some clubs have with the Fifa accolade, on the same day that Real Madrid entered a public spat with Michel Platini over the award

Jose Mourinho has branded Fifa's Ballon d'Or as "bad for football" as he thinks it highlights individualism rather than working for a team - which is not an ethic he wants at Chelsea.

Uefa president Michel Platini proclaimed in midweek that a Germany player - not favourite Cristiano Ronaldo - deserves to win 2014's Ballon d'Or due to the nation's World Cup win in the summer.

On Friday, Real Madrid issued an embittered criticism of Platini's remarks, stating that they clearly felt their top goalscorer and global icon Ronaldo was the most deserving of the accolade, while coach Carlo Ancelotti also condemned the Frenchman for airing his views.

These sort of public spats are exactly what Chelsea want to avoid, according to Mourinho, who does not believe the obsession that clubs and players have over the Ballon d'Or is healthy or beneficial.

"This kind of trophy, the Ballon d'Or, is not good for football," the former Real Madrid and Inter boss told reporters. "This is why I don't care about it.

"Sometimes it looks like we are looking for stars, we are looking for some people to be more important than others. And this is not the culture we want in this club.

"I don't care about it. But it's there. It's there as a consequence of the good work the team is doing. And, if they feel that, okay. It's good for them.

"But the mentality here is not to be worried about that. Even less being obsessed with that.

"When I see these two names, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard, I think clearly they don't think about it. They think about the team, about playing well and trying to win matches."

Mourinho won Fifa's Coach of the Year award - which is handed out in the same ceremony as the Ballon d'Or - in 2010 after guiding Inter to treble glory and has since come second and third.

The Portuguese manager is currently in the midst of his second stint at Chelsea, after leaving Madrid in 2013.

Breaking News: Van Persie under pressure after 'very bad' Arsenal game - Van Gaal

The Netherlands international touched the ball just 13 times against Arsenal last weekend and his manager admits the striker may lose his place in the club's starting XI

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admits Robin van Persie is under pressure to perform, after his “very bad game” against Arsenal last weekend.

The striker touched the ball just 13 times during the 2-1 win at the Emirates and was replaced by substitute James Wilson in the second half.

Van Gaal broke his policy of speaking about individual performances ahead of United’s clash with Hull City this weekend and admitted that he replaced the Dutchman because his performance was not good enough, and added his belief that Van Persie has lost his self-confidence after a series of below-par displays.

“I also had a striker, an international striker, Mario Gomez who touched the ball nine times in matches at Bayern Munich in my time,” he told reporters.

“But I do think 13 is too few for a striker. You can count his touches of the ball but more important is how he is playing and it was a very bad game from him and that is why I changed him.

“When I change a player it is not because he is the best player on the pitch, or I would be doing something wrong.

“I believe in the players so when I change players it is normally because they are doing something not good in their performance.

“It’s a question also of confidence, maybe a question of scoring a wonderful goal at the right moment. You know how strikers are. They have to score goals. They feel like that, it’s not that I’m asking that. I have said to them you have to be at an attacking point, you have to help our team come and search for space.

“For me, it is not important who is scoring, the team have to score.”

Van Gaal also hinted that Van Persie may lose his place in his starting XI this weekend, with Wilson and a fit-again Radamel Falcao in line to take to the field against Steve Bruce’s side.

“Every player in my selection has to fight for his position,” he said.

“I shall always take the best of the players and it has to be suitable for the mix of players.”

Van Persie has scored three goals in 11 Premier League outings so far this season.

Breaking News: Barcelona football stars get brand new cars from Audi

Barcelona football stars including Messi (above) Neymar, Suarez and other players collected brand new cars from German car manufacturer, Audi, at an event sponsored by Audi today. See more pics after the cut...

Neymar

 

Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique

 

Luis Suarez

 

Javier Mascherano

 

Pedro and Ivan Rakitic

 Xavi

Photo credit: Europa press/Getty Images

Photos: Over 200 killed in the bomb blast at Kano Central Mosque yesterday

Over 200 people were reportedly killed in the bomb blast that occurred yesterday afternoon at the Kano Central Mosque where the Emir of Kano usually leads prayers. Some eye-witnesses and rescue officials put the figure at 300, making it one the deadliest bomb attacks in Nigeria.

According to eyewitnesses, three bombs went off one after the other at the 10,000 capacity Mosque during the Friday Jumat prayers. Two went off inside the Mosque, and one outside. And when people tried to flee the scene, gun men opened fire on worshipers. Many of the casualties were children who couldn't run as fast. Some were trampled to death in the mayhem that ensued.


When normalcy returned hours after the attack, the dead and wounded, said to be over 250, were taken to the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital and the Nasarawa Hospital.

The Emir of Kano was out of the country when the incident occurred. He'd left the night before.

President Jonathan also cancelled his meeting with Nigerians entertainers at the Creative Industry event last night because of the blast.

Photo credit: Punch

Ice Prince, Iyanya, Osas Ighodaro to host The Future Awards Africa 2014

Africa’s biggest youth event, The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) 2014 has announced the hosts for its 2014 edition: they are 2014 World Music Awards nominee Iyanya; 2013 BET International African Act of the Year, Ice Prince; lead actress on MNET'e, Tinsel, Osas Ighodaro and Ugandan Channel O VJ, Flavia Tumisiime.

 

 The hosts represent the brightest and best of young Africans in the arts from music to television, in the past year. They have been announced with an exclusive photoshoot anchored by TCD Photography.
Musical artiste, Iyanya has had an exceptional 2014, touring widely abroad and selling out concerts from London to Manchester. He scored five nominations at the World Music Awards including the landmark Word’s Best Entertainer of the Year.

“I am looking forward to hosting the continent’s exclusive evening of inspiration! We live in a culture where change agents aren’t celebrated enough,” said Iyanya. “It is us, young Africans who will transform the continent and I am proud to be one of the four hosts this year."

Flavia, 23, is the Channel O VJ from Uganda. In 2013, she hosted the live premiere of the continent’s foremost reality show, Big Brother Star Game alongside its star host, IK.

"Young Africans are no longer spectators in our collective fate and the awe-inspiring selection of them that The Future Awards Africa celebrates points to this,” said Flavia. “Of course, I had to be part of the exclusive evening that rewards their creativity, innovation, enterprise. I know I will be inspired!”

Ice Prince, alongside hosting duties, is currently in the running for the TFAA Prize in Entertainment after having successfully elevated the rap genre in the past year with hit single after hit single. Signed to the formidable Chocolate City, his last album, Fire of Zamani was released last year to widespread critical and commercial acclaim.

The Future Awards Africa 2014 will be broadcast live, primetime, on perennially award-winning TV station, Channels Television - from 7.30 - 9.30pm.
The black-tie event holds on Sunday, 7 December at the Intercontinental Hotels in Lagos, Nigeria. It is strictly by invitation.

Breaking News: Orezi signs multmillion Naira Merrybet deal

Popular Afro hip-hop &dancehall artiste, Esegine Allen aka Orezi signs juicy multimillion naira deal with Nigeria’s foremost and most innovative bookmaker, Merrybet.

The shoki crooner “Alhaji Orezi”, who was elated at signing the deal said “Merrybet has brought a lot of appeal and sophistication to the business of sports betting and that it felt good to be associated with such an innovative brand.”

At the event which held at the company’s VGC office, the company’s Chief communications officer, Mr Lanre Odiase said “Merrybet is pleased to have Orezi as an ambassador as he has a fresh style and also a large fan base especially among the youths.”

Orezi would be travelling abroad soon for the shooting of the company’s television ads and he would also feature at various company functions to promote the brand and its products.

Breaking News: President Jonathan at OAU today

President Jonathan waving at students at the Obafemi Awolowo University campus today. See more pics after the cut..

Photos: Kate Henshaw dresses like GEJ to Creative Industry event

Nigerian entertainers are meeting with president Jonathan at the Creative Industry event happening tonight at Eko Hotel, Lagos. Ms Henshaw dressed like our president to the event. Creative!

Photos: Introducing North West, the stunning fashionista - more pics

Kim Kardashian dressed her 17 months old daughter in expensive designer fur coat, black leggins, black dress and black loafers and North carried it like a rockstar. Kim dressed North like that to an appointment at the spa in Beverly Hills and when paparazzi swamped the famous mum and daughter, North gave them a thumps up (right pic)...lol. How adorable! See more photos after the cut...

 Photo credit: X17online.com

Paul Merson's Premier League predictions - Round 13

 Paul Merson foresees away wins for Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City as well as victories for Liverpool and Manchester United in his latest round of predictions...
Sunderland v Chelsea - 5:30pm, Sat,

I think Sunderland will be well out of their depth here. Chelsea are so good at the moment, it’s just phenomenal. Sunderland can play at 100 miles an hour and they’ll just get picked off. Chelsea can mix it at one stage and then they can play football, play with pace or slow the game down. They are the complete team; they don’t have a weak link.
Their time may come later on when there are a few injuries but at the moment, I just can’t see anything but a Chelsea win. I wouldn’t get disheartened if I was Sunderland though. Sometimes you give your all in these games, you may pinch a draw or get a win then great, but if you don’t move on, don’t worry, Chelsea are a top team.

PAUL PREDICTS: 0-3
Southampton v Man City - 1:30pm, Sun,
I watched Southampton last week and I was disappointed. Everybody is telling me how great they are. I hadn’t seen them play before and I watched the Villa game and they didn’t look like a second-placed team to me. I said on Soccer Saturday they will finish seventh or eighth and I’m not going to change my mind from Monday’s performance. I didn’t think their attitude was great and I think they thought they just had to turn up and that wasn’t the case.
I think they’ll be better against City, but how do you stop Aguero? I don’t see how you can stop him; he’s up there with the best in world. City are a great team to watch at the moment because if it goes to form, and Chelsea beat Sunderland, they have to win - draws are no good. We know they’re going to finish in the top four but they’ve got to go out every week and try to win.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3  
Tottenham v Everton - 4pm, Sun,
Spurs have won two away games when they should have got beat, thanks to the other team having players sent off, and then they got beaten by Stoke, so I think there are really struggling at the moment. I watched them last week and they never looked like scoring.
I wasn’t impressed with Everton last week if I’m being honest either but they won. So I fancy Everton again this week, and that’s not my Arsenal head talking, that’s my football head!

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3
West Brom v Arsenal 
I fancy Arsenal, I think they’ll go on a roll now after Wednesday's win over Dortmund. Defensively the other night, they were very good. We all know they can score goals. I watched West Brom last week and they got well rinsed at Chelsea and they were well beaten the week before at home to Newcastle.

If they don’t pick up from either of those two performances, they’ll be well beaten again. I fancy Oxlade-Chamberlain to score; he’s getting better and better. So I’m going to go 2-0 Arsenal, and another clean sheet.

PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2

Burnley v Aston Villa

Well, I’m hoping I’m wrong here but I think Burnley will win this game 1-0 but, like I said, I hope I’m wrong. Villa have one shot in a game and that’s it - they can’t keep doing that. If Burnley play like they did in the first 20 minutes against Hull, I think they’ll be hard to beat. When you look at the match, you think that if Burnley are able to get one goal, then that will be enough. Hopefully I’m wrong but I’m going for a home win. 

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0

Liverpool v Stoke
I think just Liverpool here. Stoke have been better away from home this season than at home which is a surprise. I know Liverpool are all over the place at the moment but I'm going to go with Liverpool here on the strength that they have got to turn the corner sooner rather than later, otherwise I couldn’t see them winning this game to be honest.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1
Manchester United v Hull

 
 I thought Hull were unlucky last week against Spurs. If Gaston Ramirez doesn’t get sent off, they win the game and they definitely don’t lose. If Man United got back on that coach on Saturday and thought that was a good performance at the Emirates, then they better start worrying. That could have been any scoreline in the first 30 minutes so you can’t tell me that was good. I think they’ll struggle again here as they haven’t shown any form to change my mind yet. Saying that, I think they’ll just nick it.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1

QPR v Leicester
This is a cup final, a six-pointer! I don’t think Leicester have recovered since Burnley scored that last-minute free-kick against them. They beat Man United, but Burnley fought back and if they had won that, there would have been a bit of momentum. Instead they just haven’t recovered. QPR, at home especially, are a different team now with Zamora in there. They have a lot of energy so I’m going for a home win.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0
Swansea v Crystal Palace
I’m doing this game on Soccer Saturday. I’ve watched Palace a few times this season and Liverpool made them look like the Harlem Globetrotters last week and they're not, believe me! I think Swansea will win this game. Palace shouldn’t get too carried away, they did very well the other day but there’s a long way to go yet and Swansea are a decent team, especially with Bony up front.

 
 Swansea gave a good account of themselves last week and Man City and they only lost by the odd goal, they’ve beaten Arsenal at home as well so they're doing well. They're floating around the top part of the table so I can’t see anything other than a home win.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0

West Ham v Newcastle
I watched West Ham last week at Everton and I thought they were bang unlucky. I thought they were decent. They should have at least got a draw out of the game. They had a lot injuries - Sakho, and Valencia didn’t play and Carroll played up front. Downing was out last week as well and he’ll be back, he’s a big player them.

Was it a blessing in disguise they lost? Maybe. If they had won that game and Carroll and Nolan played well, what happens this week? Do they play again and then we're back to last season's team? Look what happened last season when the crowd were on their backs and they didn’t win but the team played well, so do you go and put the big boys back in again? I know they’re on a roll Newcastle, but I can’t see anything but a West Ham win this week.