Thomas Tuchel insists Bayern Munich will not be “forced into crazy things” in the last days of the January transfer window despite a growing injury list.

Bayern are without a number of key first-teamers, including midfielders Joshua Kimmich, Konrad Laimer and centre-back Dayot Upamecano, as they aim to gain ground in the Bundesliga title race when they travel the short distance to Bavarian neighbours Augsburg on Saturday afternoon.

The depth of Tuchel’s squad is set to be tested in the coming weeks, but he is adamant his club will not be rushed into any panic buys.

“The transfer windows are getting more and more complicated. The public plays a bigger and bigger part in that,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.

“I have full confidence in what we’re doing. We won’t be forced into crazy things. The team is clear for tomorrow. You rely on that as a coach. We’ll push the team through tomorrow’s game. I’m sure we’ll have everything to get an important away win tomorrow.”

Upamecano’s thigh injury means Englishman Eric Dier is set to continue in the starting XI after making his Bayern debut in the midweek win over Union Berlin.

Tuchel hailed Dier’s integration into the squad since his loan move to Germany from Tottenham.

“Obviously he’s lacking training sessions and playing time with the team. Now we’ve had a crash course, which is sometimes the best. He’s very aware, very clear in everything he does. I have great confidence that he’ll play well again tomorrow,” Tuchel said.

Bayern head into Saturday’s match four points behind unbeaten Leverkusen, whom they face in a title showdown on February 10.

“There’s no putting a value on the importance of games. Konrad Laimer and Dayot Upamecano are out for weeks. Konny (Laimer) has played every game for us, so it’s tough. We have to try to compensate for that,” he said.

“There’s a plan. We feel prepared. But there are obviously a lot of injuries from the rearranged game (against Union).”

Tuchel said Kimmich had “no chance” of being available, adding: “His shoulder needs to be immobilised, and then we’ll take things a week at a time. It’s tough to put a timescale on Josh being out.”

Augsburg coach Jess Thorup said his team were “on a really good trajectory” heading into the clash with Bayern, having won away at Borussia Monchengladbach last Sunday.

“We will try to keep in control of the game not just when we’re out of possession, but when we have the ball as well. We don’t just want to defend,” Thorup said.

The Augsburg coach revealed he had a full squad of players to pick from for Bayern’s visit.

Union Berlin boss Nenad Bjelica has been handed a three-match stadium ban after pushing Bayern Munich midfielder Leroy Sane in the face.

The Croatian has also been fined 25,000 Euros for “unsportsmanlike conduct” by the sports court of the German Football Association following an incident during Wednesday’s 1-0 Bundesliga defeat at the Allianz Arena.

A DFB statement said: “The sports court of the German Football Association (DFB) has banned Nenad Bjelica from the club’s next three Bundesliga games and imposed a fine…amounting to 25,000 euros.”

The statement continued: “Bjelica behaved in an unsportsmanlike manner towards Munich player Leroy Sane and, among other things, grabbed his face, whereupon the referee, Frank Willenborg, showed the red card.

“The coach and his club have agreed to the judgment and the judgment is therefore legally binding.”

Bjelica thrust a hand into former Manchester City player Sane’s face as the pair grappled for the ball after it had gone out of play in front of the Union dugout, prompting Willenborg to send him to the stands.

The ban will cover Sunday’s home clash with Darmstadt and next month’s trips to RB Leipzig and Mainz.

The terms of the penalty mean Bjelica cannot be inside the stadium from 30 minutes before a game until 30 minutes afterwards and is not allowed to have direct or indirect contact with his team.

Fans have poked fun at England international Eric Dier for going “full Steve McClaren” after he appeared to have adopted a German accent following his debut for Bayern Munich.

The 30-year-old, who is on loan at Bayern from Tottenham, was introduced as a half-time replacement for the injured Dayot Upamecano in Wednesday night’s 1-0 Bundesliga victory over Union Berlin and was interviewed on the pitch afterwards.

Dier, who was born in Cheltenham but raised in Portugal, spoke with a German twang, prompting amused comments from social media users.

In it, he said: “A very proud moment for me, obviously, to make my debut for this club. It’s a very proud moment for me and my family and I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed playing here.”

The interview rekindled memories of current Manchester United coach McClaren, who famously appeared to mimic a Dutch accent in an interview during his time in charge at Eredivisie club Twente.

Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano is facing several weeks on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury during Wednesday night’s 1-0 Bundesliga victory over Union Berlin.

The 25-year-old France international pulled up as he tracked a break by Union’s Benedict Hollerbach towards the end of the first half at the Allianz Arena and although he managed to continue until the break after treatment, he was replaced by debutant Eric Dier before the restart.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel said: “It’s a torn fibre in the back of the thigh. It’s going to be weeks, not days.

“That’s really tough to take for Upa and for us. He’s been in top form in recent weeks.”

Upamecano was not the only Bayern player to emerge from a hard-fought victory with an injury.

Full-back Konrad Laimer was withdrawn with a knock four minutes from time, while midfielder Joshua Kimmich finished the game nursing a shoulder problem, and both will be assessed ahead of Saturday’s trip to Augsburg.

Union Berlin head coach Nenad Bjelica saw red after pushing Leroy Sane in the face during Bayern Munich’s narrow 1-0 win in the Bundesliga.

Bayern led through Raphael Guerreiro’s strike early in the second half before Bjelica appeared to push the former Manchester City winger twice in a sideline clash.

The narrow victory moved Bayern to within four points of Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen as they bounced back from the weekend’s defeat to Werder Bremen.

Harry Kane had an effort disallowed for offside while England team-mate Eric Dier made his Bayern debut as a half-time substitute.

Athletic Bilbao’s Williams brothers both scored in extra-time as Barcelona endured more Copa del Rey misery at the San Mames in a 4-2 humbling in their quarter-final.

Inaki came off the bench to put the hosts ahead right at the end of the first additional period before Nico, eight years his junior at 21, applied the finishing touch with the last kick of the game.

The Catalans’ previous two visits in the competition in 2020 and 2022 both ended in defeat and when Inaki Williams reacted brilliantly to a huge stroke of luck by converting his own shot which rebounded off a post, history repeated itself.

It was no less than they deserved after stunning Barca by taking the lead after just 36 seconds through Gorka Guruzeta.

The visitors turned things around with goals from Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal in a six-minute spell midway through the first half but they never looked comfortable and Oihan Sanchet’s equaliser – from a sublime Nico Williams cross – just after the interval paved the way for former Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde’s side to win the game over 120 minutes.

LaLiga leaders Girona were also knocked out as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at 10-man Real Mallorca.

The hosts scored three times in the first half courtesy of Cyle Larin and two efforts from Abdon Prats, one a stunning strike and the other a penalty.

Girona pulled a goal back midway through the second half when Cristhian Stuani scored a spot-kick after being fouled by Antonio Raillo, who was sent off, and they reduced the deficit further via a Savio finish in the sixth minute of stoppage time, but a last-gasp equaliser proved beyond them.

Raphael Guerreiro edged Bayern Munich to a narrow victory over Union Berlin to take the champions to within four points of Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

On a night when on-loan Tottenham defender Eric Dier made his Bayern debut as a half-time substitute and England skipper Harry Kane saw a 23rd league goal of the campaign chalked off, Union coach Nenad Bjelica was sent to the stands after appearing to push Leroy Sane in the face, an offence which is certain to result in significant disciplinary action.

A 1-0 victory was the bare minimum in the wake of Saturday’s home defeat by Werder Bremen with head coach Thomas Tuchel, who it was announced before kick-off has abandoned his pursuit of Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier, reportedly under pressure after a testing run.

It took a double save by Union keeper Frederik Ronnow to keep the sides level when he first repelled Matthijs de Ligt’s header and then Dayot Upamecano’s follow-up from Joshua Kimmich’s sixth-minute corner.

Kingsley Coman saw an 11th-minute drive turned away and Konrad Laimer dragged another wide of the far post before De Ligt missed the target with another header from a corner as the home side pressed for an opener.

With Jamal Musiala and Sane prominent, Bayern probed away and Coman flicked just off target from a Guerreiro cross before Leon Goretzka curled another attempt over.

Kimmich shot tamely at Ronnow and Guerreiro fired another well wide with Union continuing to frustrate the hosts, although the visitors mounted a rare attack and Janik Haberer blazed over from distance after Robin Gosens had laid off Benedict Hollerbach’s cross.

Worryingly for Tuchel, Upamecano pulled up clutching his hamstring as he pursued Hollerbach, although the central defender managed to complete the half after treatment.

The sides headed for the dressing rooms – to the clear displeasure of some of the locals at Allianz Arena, with the deadlock unbroken – but with both Sane and Musiala having gone close in stoppage time.

Dier belatedly replaced Upamecano at the break and the jeers turned to cheers within seconds when, after Kane’s shot had thundered back off the post, Guerreiro forced the ball past Ronnow at the second attempt to ease the tension inside the stadium.

Kane thought he had extended his side’s lead when he dispatched Sane’s 55th-minute cross, but his effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

For all the home side’s dominance, Union remained in the game as long as only one goal separated the teams, and that jeopardy was highlighted when Kevin Behrens appeared to be tripped inside the box, but not in the opinion of the VAR official.

Tempers frayed on the sideline with 74 minutes gone when Bjelica raised a hand to Sane as the pair wrestled for the ball and received a red card for his actions.

Ronnow had to dive full-length to keep out Goretzka’s 81st-minute header, but the final whistle left many questions unanswered for Tuchel.

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich say they have ended their pursuit of Newcastle full-back Kieran Trippier.

Bayern saw a series of approaches, including an initial loan bid and a £13million cash offer for the 33-year-old England international, rebuffed by the Magpies, who insisted they were not prepared to let one of their key players leave this month.

However, Thomas Tuchel’s side have now admitted defeat in their attempts to lure him away from Tyneside.

Sporting director Christoph Freund told Sky Germany: “The Kieran Trippier issue is over. We only do what we are 100 per cent convinced of.”

Newcastle have also rejected a loan bid for striker Callum Wilson from Atletico Madrid, while Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab have expressed an interest in fellow front Miguel Almiron.

None of the three players are understood to be agitating for a move.

Potential buyers have set their sights on the Magpies since chief executive Darren Eales admitted that they may have to sell players to buy in order to comply with profit and sustainability and financial fair play rules after a embarking upon £400million spending spree since their Saudi-backed owners took over in October 2021.

Newcastle have turned down a 15million euros bid from Bayern Munich for full-back Kieran Trippier.

The England international was the subject of a rejected loan offer from the Bundesliga giants at the weekend, but have returned with a cash bid which amounts to around £13million for the 33-year-old.

However, the PA news agency understands the Magpies have no intention of selling Trippier, who joined the club in a £12million switch from Atletico Madrid in January 2022, during the current transfer window.

They have also rebuffed an approach from Atletico for striker Callum Wilson on loan and signalled that they want to keep him at St James’ Park for at least the remainder of the season as well.

Al-Shabab – not one of the four clubs in which Saudia Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which holds an 80 per cent stake in Newcastle, has a controlling interest – are also chasing Paraguay frontman Miguel Almiron, but are yet to reach a point where his current employers would even have cause to think about a deal.

The knowledge that the Tyneside club is close to its spending limit after a £400million-plus, two-year recruitment drive appears to have prompted suitors to test the water this month.

While chief executive Darren Eales has admitted that player trading is something the club will have to do in the longer term, there is no great willingness to start now with injuries continuing to deplete head coach Eddie Howe’s squad, and none of the players in question are agitating for a move.

Bayern, who have other targets, now face a decision over whether or not to consider their pursuit of Trippier before the February 1 deadline, knowing that they may have to go significantly higher than their valuation if they are to spark a rethink.

Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel knows it will not be easy to ‘flip the switch’ and get their Bundesliga campaign back on track.

Tuchel faced more questions over the direction of his side following the 1-0 home loss to Werder Bremen on Sunday, which left Bayern seven points behind unbeaten leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who have played one match more.

Union Berlin head to the Allianz Arena for Wednesday night’s rearranged game – with Bayern fans demanding an immediate response.

“It is not a case of simply flipping a switch. It is not easy,” Tuchel told a press conference.

“We are very aware of the state of play. It is our job and my responsibility to influence it. We are actually very positive, but we are falling well short of our expectations in matches.

“We will continue to demand it until it works, and we are ready to show the desire that will also spark the fans – we are below our expectations.

“We can do a lot better. There is a lot of room for improvement. The explanation in terms of passion, bite, tackling and enthusiasm remains the same.

“It is the foundation for all tactical things. We have not shown that and we will try to do so tomorrow.”

Tuchel maintains he is not feeling any extra pressure from the Bayern boardroom.

“I also have a very good relationship with (chief executive) Jan-Christian Dreesen. There have been no concrete exchanges,” Tuchel said.

“Christoph Freund is with us every day as sporting director. He has expressed his opinion – and he is right to do so.”

Tuchel reported no fresh injury concerns, but remains without defenders Kim Min-Jae and Noussair Mazraoui, who are on international duty.

Union Berlin head coach Nenad Bjelica is expecting Bayern to come out “with anger in their stomachs”, but challenged his side to make the most of their own opportunities.

 

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“Bayern are one of the most difficult opponents you can face in the Bundesliga, but like Werder Bremen, we are hoping to take our chances and capitalise on them to come home with one or more points,” Bjelica said at a press conference.

“Munich will certainly go into the game with anger in their stomachs, which is why we want to go into the clash with maximum discipline, aggression and courage.”

Union Berlin, whose last match against Mainz was postponed because of freezing conditions, have strengthened the squad with the signing of forward Chris Bedia from Swiss club Servette.

Rani Khedira and Josip Juranovic remain unavailable because of injury, while Aissa Laidouni is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

What the papers say

German side Bayern Munich plan to test Newcastle’s resolve by offering a higher bid for 33-year-old defender Kieran Trippier after an initial offer for the England international was rejected, the Guardian reports.

The Magpies have also rejected a loan offer from Atletico Madrid for striker Callum Wilson, according to the Daily Mail.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney wants to stay with the Bees, according to the Daily Mirror, despite being linked to both Arsenal and Chelsea.

Al-Nassr are believed to have made an offer totalling £21million for Tottenham defender Emerson Royal, the Daily Mail reports, but the Saudi Arabian side have been rebuffed.

Social media round-upPlayers to watch

Hugo Ekitike: German side Eintracht Frankfurt have reached a verbal agreement for the Paris St Germain forward and are gearing up for the next stage of negotiations, Sky Sports Germany says.

Ben Godfrey: The Everton defender is shaping up as an option for AC Milan, Calciomercato reports, however Sheffield United and Leeds are also understood to be interested in the 26-year-old.

Jonathan Varane: The 22-year-old Sporting Gijon midfielder has garnered significant interest from a number of clubs, including LaLiga sides Cadiz and Getafe and Championship outfits Norwich and QPR, writes L’Equipe.

Jude Bellingham inspired Real Madrid with a goal and an assist as they came from two goals down to earn a last-gasp 3-2 win over rock-bottom Almeria in LaLiga.

The visitors hit the front inside a minute through Largie Ramazani and doubled their lead at the end of the first half when Edgar Gonzalez slammed a shot into the top corner from outside the area.

Bellingham kick-started Madrid’s comeback from the penalty spot in the 57th minute and they were on level terms 10 minutes later when Vinicius Junior nudged home from inside the area.

The game looked to be heading for a draw, but Madrid snatched the points nine minutes into stoppage time when Bellingham nodded across for Dani Carvajal, who poked home at the back post.

Osasuna made it back-to-back wins with a 3-2 victory over Getafe.

David Garcia edged the hosts in front inside 10 minutes with a close-range finish and they doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark through Iker Munoz.

Getafe fought back to level terms with two goals in four second-half minutes, Borja Mayoral bringing the visitors back into the contest and Nemanja Maksimovic making it 2-2, but Jesus Areso’s intended cross from near the corner flag ended up in the back of the net via a post to give Osasuna all three points.

In Germany, Bayern Munich slipped to a shock 1-0 home defeat to Werder Bremen to lose further ground to Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

The visitors, who had Justin Njinmah’s strike ruled out in the 25th minute after a VAR check, were not to be denied when Mitchell Weiser cut in from the left and fired into the roof of the net to give them a deserved lead.

Goalkeeper Michael Zetterer denied Leroy Sane and Mathys Tel late on to earn Werder a first league win over Munich since 2008.

Augsburg came from a goal down to beat Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 at Borussia Park.

Jordan Pefok bundled home from close range to give the hosts a lead, but Augsburg hit back in the second half.

Phillip Tietz brought Augsburg level with a neat header two minutes into the half and the winner came four minutes later as Arne Engels found the bottom corner from inside the box to help Augsburg move above their opponents in the table.

In Serie A, Szymon Zurkowski scored a hat-trick to help Empoli move within two points of safety with a 3-0 win over Monza.

Zurkowski put the hosts in front in superb fashion with a spectacular volley and doubled their lead with a header seven minutes before the break before he rounded off his treble with a right-footed tap-in after the break.

Frosinone came from behind to end a run of five straight defeats with a 3-1 win over Cagliari.

Sulemana bagged his first Serie A goal to give Cagliari a half-time lead, but Frosinone scored three times after the break.

Luca Mazzitelli’s pinpoint header brought them level before Matias Soule found the top corner from a free-kick and Kaio Jorge added a third in stoppage time.

Bottom side Salernitana slipped to their 13th league defeat of the season as they lost 2-1 to Genoa.

Salernitana edged in front in the second minute thanks to Agustin Martegani, but they were not ahead for long as Mateo Retegui equalised 10 minutes later and Albert Gudmundsson’s penalty secured Genoa’s comeback victory.

Bayern Munich slipped to their first home league defeat of the season as Mitchell Weiser’s second-half goal earned Werder Bremen a shock 1-0 win at the Allianz Arena.

The visitors, who had Justin Njinmah’s strike ruled out in the 25th minute after a VAR check, looked relatively comfortable for much of the first half against a Bayern side who were looking to close the seven-point deficit to leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

Bremen took the lead just before the hour mark when former Bayern man Weiser cut in from the right and unleashed a fierce left-footed shot into the roof of the net.

Ole Werner’s team had Michael Zetterer to thank for preserving their advantage, the goalkeeper producing several superb saves to ensure the away team took home all three points.

Bayern had the better of the early stages, Leroy Sane firing the game’s first shot on target straight into the grasp of Zetterer.

But the away side, who headed into the match unbeaten in four, soon began to grow in confidence.

Jens Stage forced a save from Manuel Neuer, and Weiser’s deflected effort looked to be heading in before the Germany goalkeeper superbly touched behind for a corner.

They thought they had the opener in the 25th minute when Njinmah was set clear on goal and slotted home, but it was ruled out after a VAR check adjudged Jamal Musiala had been fouled in the build-up.

The hosts then almost took the lead themselves when Dayot Upamecano found himself one one one with Zetterer, but he directed his effort straight at the keeper.

Harry Kane had his first real glimpse of goal at the start of the second half when the ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the box but he powered over the bar.

Bremen took the lead just before the hour when Weiser crashed into the roof of the net from close range.

Bayern pushed for an equaliser, with no-one on hand to tap home after England captain Kane headed a corner back across goal from the back post.

It turned into wave after wave of home attack in the closing stages and they were denied again when Sane’s goal-bound shot was tipped behind by Zetterer.

Bayern went within inches of an equaliser with three minutes to go when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s cross found Mathys Tel, but the Frenchman’s header was tipped onto the post by Zetterer as the visitors held on.

Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has backed planned demonstrations against right-wing extremism in Germany as he prepares his players for their Bundesliga clash with Werder Bremen.

The club’s honorary president Uli Hoeness made a statement against Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party during a memorial ceremony for the nation’s football great Franz Beckenbauer on Friday, while Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso and Freiburg counterpart Christian Streich have also spoken out.

Asked about the protests at his pre-match press conference, Tuchel said: “We can’t stand up enough.

“There’s no doubt about fighting against all forms of extremism, but obviously also against right-wing extremism in particular given the discussion and our history. There can be no doubt there.”

Tuchel’s comments came a day after Germany paid an emotional tribute to Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup both as a player and a manager.

He said: “Franz was in the same league as Pele and Diego Maradona – you can’t get bigger than that.

“It was a nice, respectful and dignified service. The speeches were very powerful.”

Bayern returned to action after the league’s winter break with a 3-0 victory over Hoffenheim last Saturday and head into Sunday’s fixture sitting in second place behind Bayer Leverkusen with a game in hand.

Tuchel, who confirmed loan signing Eric Dier will be in the squad, said: “It’s obviously a classic fixture that had a huge allure when I was a kid.

“There’s always a special energy and lots of goals. Bremen have a special way of playing, always looking to attack.

“It’s about three points. We’ll adjust everything for what’s best for us to get the three points.”

Bremen head coach Ole Werner, who will be without suspended duo Marvin Ducksch and Leonardo Bittencourt, knows his team will have to be at their best to extend a four-game unbeaten run.

Werner told a press conference: “We need to be on our A game throughout the full 90 and hope that Bayern aren’t at their absolute best. That being said, we’re preparing for the challenge with what we have available to us.

“We’ll have to mentally adapt to having less possession than we usually would. In the moments where we do have the ball, we have to make the most of our chances.

“We could dwell forever on the fact that Bayern are the league front-runners, but it’s important that we just focus on ourselves.”

Franz Beckenbauer was described as a “role model for many generations” as Bayern Munich paid an emotional final farewell to their club great in a memorial service at the Allianz Arena on Friday.

Former West Germany captain and manager Beckenbauer died on January 7 at the age of 78, prompting tributes throughout the world of football for the man known as ‘Der Kaiser’ – The Emperor.

Munich-born Beckenbauer captained Bayern to three successive European Cup triumphs from 1974, and is one of only three men to have won the World Cup as both player and manager, lifting the trophy in 1974 and 1990.

Comfortable as an attacking sweeper or dominant midfielder, Beckenbauer was widely recognised as one of the best players in the history of the game and won the Ballon d’Or in 1972 and 1976.

Beckenbauer had been laid to rest alongside his parents at the Perlacher Forest cemetery in Munich.

Around 20,000 fans attended Friday’s memorial service, along with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and national team coach Julian Nagelsmann.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino and UEFA counterpart Aleksander Ceferin were also among the guests, while leading European clubs were represented by the likes of Barcelona’s Joan Laporta, Paris St Germain’s Nasser Al-Khelaifi as well as Real Madrid’s honorary president Jose Martinez Pirri.

Alex Stepney fronted Manchester United’s delegation, having earlier visited Manchesterplatz in Trudering-Riem, the site of the 1958 Munich Air Disaster, to lay a wreath for his former team-mate Sir Bobby Charlton and their great on-pitch rival Beckenbauer.

Wreaths, including from Barcelona and Liverpool, were laid around a black-and-white picture of Beckenbauer in the centre circle at Bayern’s Allianz Arena home.

Lothar Matthaeus, captain of the 1990 World Cup-winning squad, Paul Breitner and Berti Vogts, team-mates from 1974, were among the players who paid their respects on the pitch, along with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the former Bayern chief executive and close friend of Beckenbauer.

Tenor Jonas Kaufmann sang the Italian version of “Time to Say Goodbye” before Bayern president Herbert Hainer addressed the crowd.

“Franz was a friend to everyone, from his heart. That’s what made him this unique personality. He would have been pleased that so many people have come today,” Hainer said in his speech.

“A Munich child who became a world citizen. He was taught from a young age that every person is equal. He exemplified that value – always and everywhere.

“A role model for many generations. Wherever he went, Franz treated everyone the same way. Always a nice word, always an open ear – that was his gift.”

Hainer added: “This is FC Bayern’s home and this will always be Franz’s home, too. FC Bayern will always remain the Kaiser’s empire.

“Dear Franz, we’re immeasurably grateful for everything. You’ll remain in our hearts and in our play for all time.”

Bayern’s honorary president Uli Hoeness paid an emotional tribute to his old friend as the ceremony was brought to a close.

“We played together for many years, we won a huge amount and lost the odd game too,” he said.

“If I didn’t know what to do with the ball, I knew it was safe with Franz.”

Hoeness added: “If you had a problem, you went to Franz. That was one of his most important characteristics.

“You could learn a lot from Franz not just on the pitch, but a lot off it too.”

Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt has suffered a knee injury at the club’s training camp in Faro, Portugal.

It is unknown how long De Ligt will be out of action but Bayern confirmed he will not be able to train with the squad as they prepare for their match with Werder Bremen on Sunday.

A club statement read: “Matthijs de Ligt has suffered a capsular injury in his left knee during the training camp in Faro, Portugal. The diagnosis was confirmed by FC Bayern’s medical department following an MRI scan.”

The Dutchman missed the training session on Tuesday alongside fellow defenders Dayot Upamecano and new signing Eric Dier, who left the camp ahead of the birth of his first child.

Bayern will continue preparations in Portugal before returning to Germany for the weekend’s fixture as they look to close the gap on league leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

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