FC Bayern Munich and Al Ahli players vie for the ball possession during their friendly match played at Aspire Zone yesterday. Sandro Wagner scored his first goal since returning to Bayern Munich as the German side beat QSL team 6-0. Pic: Abdul Basit / The
Doha: Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes said that hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup during the winter was a ‘smart’ move.
He described the weather conditions in Qatar at this time of year as ideal, and explained how his players will return to Germany energised and motivated.
During a press conference held in Doha yesterday, Heynckes insisted that there has been no contact between the German club and Chelsea over Arturo Vidal ruling out the possibility of the Chilean international been sold during the January transfer period.
The Bavarian midfielder has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge as Antonio Conte looks to strengthen his midfield.
But the veteran German coach dismissed suggestions Vidal will leave in January and termed the media reports as ‘pure speculation’.
“There is no contact between Chelsea and Bayern - we will not sell Vidal or any other player for that matter during the winter break,” Heynckes said at a press conference in Doha where the Bundesliga leaders are on a winter training camp.
“It’s just speculation. Arturo Vidal is very motivated, he’s a top player and we need him at his very best if Bayern is to play well.”
English champions Chelsea have already been busy in the January transfer window, snapping up Ross Barkley from Everton for a fee.
It had been claimed Chelsea had offered Vidal a four-year contract worth £13.5m-per-season.
Vidal has just 18 months left on the four-year deal he signed to join the German champions in 2015 and Bayern have been linked with Schalke’s Leon Goretzka, who is available on the free transfer in the summer. Conte worked alongside Vidal at Juventus and is well aware of his quality.
Bayern, who lead the Bundesliga by 11 points from Schalke 04, arrived in World Cup 2022 host Qatar on January 2.
Bayern resume Bundesliga duties on January 12, when they play away to fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen. Heynckes, 72, is in his fourth stint at the club after Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and President Uli Hoeness turned to their 2013 treble-winning coach following the dismissal of Carlo Ancelotti in September last year.
Bayern promptly won nine of their 10 following matches.
Coach Heynckes also said that his team is well and truly ready to face Istanbul-based Besiktas in the Round 16 of the Champions League.
“You can see the quality the team has in training. You don’t always see that with teams. That’s why I’m not just very pleased but also optimistic for the coming weeks,” Heynckes said.
“My players came back from their short holidays highly motivated. It’s great fun to work with the team and the whole supporting staff,” the veteran coach said.
Heynckes had words of praise on the final day of the training camp and also drew positives from the fact that players such as Jerome Boateng, David Alaba, Thomas Müller and Franck Ribery, who had struggled with injuries in the first half of the season, were able to take full part in the programme in Doha.
“It’s logical that the players have to reach their full capability once again. That’s the point I’ve made to them,” the coach said.
“In order to progress in the Champions League, all players for the big moments have to be fit,” he added.
This is the eight year the Bundesliga giants have chosen the state-of-the-art Aspire Academy as a venue for their winter training, which ended yesterday with a match against QNB Stars League side Al Ahli, which the Bavarian giants won 6-0.
