GUARDIOLA: I'M HONOURED TO BE AT BAYERN

Pep Guardiola spoke of his "honor" at joining "one of the biggest clubs in the world'' after being officially unveiled as Bayern Munich's new head coach today.

The 42-year-old Catalan, returning from his year-long sabbatical after four trophy-laden years with Barcelona, replaces treble-winning boss Jupp Heynckes in the Bayern hotseat and cannot wait to get started.
"I am ready," he said. "My time at Barcelona was wonderful, but I needed a new challenge and Bayern Munich gave me this opportunity.

"They are a club with great players and a great history and I chose Bayern because they are one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"There are few really special clubs in the world and Bayern are one of these clubs. When Bayern call you, it's a great honour and that is why I am here.''
That call came last December, although Guardiola's move to Bayern had been in the pipeline for much longer, according to club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
"We had been working on it for a long time to convince Pep to come to Bayern,'' he said. "It started two years ago when we had the Audi Cup and (president) Uli (Hoeness) and I drunk a coffee with him and we discovered he had a soft spot for Bayern.
"He liked the philosophy and the team and we've remained in contact with him, and it became more intensive over the last year when we were deciding who would be our coach from July 1.
"We're delighted, and proud to have appointed the most successful coach in the world, and Pep became that with Barcelona.
"From day one, we got the impression Bayern wanted Pep and Pep wanted Bayern.''
When Guardiola's appointment was announced in January, it was not clear how successful Bayern's season would turn out.
Under Heynckes, the Bavarians went on to claim an historic treble of Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League titles - becoming the first side in German football history to accomplish such a feat.
He therefore has some big shoes to fill, but is not fazed by the prospect.
"I've got to be able to live with it," he said. "In a big club, you always have a lot of pressure and I have a lot of pressure here, but I know this.
"But I am accepting this big challenge without a problem. That's why I'm coach. Sometimes you take on a team who was a relegated, and that was the case in my first year as coach of Barcelona's B team.

"Then you can get a team 18 points behind and that was my case with Barcelona's first team.
"The situation today is completely different. I am taking over a team who were extraordinary last season. They won four titles - three plus the Supercup - but, when you are coach of Bayern Munich, no matter what the situation is, you have
always got to play well and have always got to win."
Replacing Heynckes is therefore less of a burden and more of an incentive for Guardiola.
"I have a lot of respect for what he achieved not only last season, but also throughout his extraordinary coaching career,'' he said.
"For me he it is a great honor to succeed him and I hope to maintain the level the team played at last season. There is lots of pressure, but I've got to accept it and be capable of coping."
President Uli Hoeness expressed his conviction that Guardiola was the only man for the job.
"We're at the top and being at the top is one thing, but staying at the top is something else,'' he said.
"That is the most difficult task a coach can have and that's why I think Pep is just the man after such a year. I'm convinced that, if not he, who else could do this job?''
Guardiola, who arrived in Munich last night, will lead his first training session at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
The first two training sessions will be staged in front of 25,000 fans at the venue before Guardiola and his team get to work on preparing for the 2013/14 season at the club's Sabener Strasse training facilities.

SUNDERLAND: SESSEGNON CAN LEAVE

According to Sky Sports, Stephane Sessegnon has been told he can leave Sunderland, but he is not interested in a rumoured move to China.

Reports emerged this week that Tianjin Teda were interested in the forward, but Sky Tyne and Wear understands he would not consider a move from the north east of England to the north east of China.

A source close to the player insists he is happy at Sunderland and was willing to commit his future to the club, but the Black Cats are now open to offers for the former Paris Saint Germain man.
The source told Sky Tyne and Wear: "He [Sessegnon] has been told he can go.
"He was very happy to commit and stay at Sunderland but if the club wants a clear-out what can you do?"
Work is under way to find the Benin international a new club but a move is not imminent, with the source adding: "At the moment it is quiet."
Sessegnon has scored 18 goals for Sunderland since joining from PSG in 2011 for £6m.

BENITEZ TAKES A DIG AT MOURINHO

Former Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez made a thinly veiled dig at his successor at Stamford Bridge, Jose Mourinho, in comments published on Monday, chiding him for his apparent win-at-all-costs attitude.
Benitez was recently appointed as head coach of Napoli after a successful spell as Chelsea's interim boss last season, as he led the Blues to the Europa League title and ensured Champions League qualification for next season.

But when asked about Mourinho's attitude during his time at Real Madrid, Benitez claimed sportsmanship should not be sacrificed just for the sake of winning.
"Everyone is how they are but I try to do things with respect and professionalism. That is how I was educated," he was quoted as saying by the Spanish sports daily AS.
Benitez and Mourinho had a few heated clashes during the Portuguese's first spell in charge at Chelsea, when Benitez was still manager of Liverpool.
Mourinho has been heavily criticised in Spain for trying to encourage a divide between the Real Madrid and Barcelona players in the Spanish national team when the rivalry between the two clubs got particularly intense during his first year in charge at Real.
"I always want to win but without overstepping the line of sportsmanship. It is true that I have a better relationship with some coaches than others and I am with those that don't value the result at any price," said Benitez.
The Spaniard started off his career at Madrid as a youth team coach and eventually as an assistant to current Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque.
But he said he had not been contacted by Real president Florentino Perez about succeeding Mourinho and was not offered the job again since initially turning it down during his time at Liverpool.
"I have already said that they phoned me when I was committed to Liverpool. And they have never returned to call me," he said.
"You should ask Florentino and his advisers what is the criteria for selection. I have done enough things and won enough titles in these years for them to know what I can offer."

BELFODIL: I'LL LOVE TO PLAY FOR INTER MILAN

Right now I'm on holiday in Dubai and in a couple of days I'll be back in Italy.
I told my agent to call only when there is something real and true, and I still have not received any communication.
Parma and Inter are dealing with it, everyone knows that. Inter are a great club and, although they had a poor season, they have a great history. Who would not like to play for them?

– Parma striker Ishak Belfodil speaking to fcinternews.it

WITSEL WANTS PSG MOVE

Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Axel Witsel admits a move to Paris St Germain would be impossible to turn down.
The Belgium international has been linked with the Ligue 1 champions, with reports in France suggesting Ezequiel Lavezzi could move the other way in part-exchange.

"For now my mind is 100 per cent focused on Zenit," Witsel told Belgian daily Sudinfo.
"PSG are one of the clubs who no player could be indifferent to. You could not refuse that."
Laurent Blanc is set to replace Carlo Ancelotti as PSG coach and Witsel is in the dark as to whether the former Bordeaux and France coach would be interested in signing him.
"Does Laurent Blanc like me? I do not know anything," he said. "All I know of him is his sporting career.
"In football, everything can happen quickly. But I cannot say any more about it, because I do not hold any of the cards."
Witsel, 24, scored four times in 19 appearances for Zenit last season following a big-money move from Benfica.

CAVANI ANGRY WITH NAPOLI CHAIRMAN

Edinson Cavani has outlined his disappointment with comments made by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis regarding his future.
Cavani, 26, has been linked with a move away from Napoli this summer, with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea linked with the striker, who has a €63 million release clause.

De Laurentiis recently said of the player that "I'll smack him" if a conclusion over whether the Uruguay international will be remaining at Napoli is not reached by July 20.
"Will I let Cavani go before August 10? I trust in the man, then if he doesn’t want to it’ll be a joke on me,” De Laurentiis told Radio Rai.
"However, I believe he is a real man and will therefore remain at Napoli. If he does decide to go, it will in any case be after the Confederations Cup.
"We will know everything by July 20. If not, I'll smack him!"
Cavani, though, has reacted with unease at the comments. Speaking from the Confederations Cup, he said: "Those statements were strong and I didn’t really like them very much.
"Now I want to speak with the president face-to-face, as I have done on numerous occasions in the past."

MILAN: MONTOLIVO IS NOT FOR SALE

AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has stressed that the club's new captain Riccardo Montolivo is not for sale.

Reports in Spain emerged over the weekend suggesting that Sevilla had tabled a €20 million offer for the midfielder, which was promptly rejected by the San Siro side.
Galliani has since moved to quash any further speculation over the 28-year-old's future, claiming he is in line to captain the side in the future after Massimo Ambrosini departed the club.

"We are talking about the future captain of Milan, the player [Montolivo] is not for sale," Galliani told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I talked to [Christian] Abbiati before, he had no problem with Montolivo being named as the new captain.

"And then we assigned it to Riccardo, who among other things has a name that I always like to mention, since his footballing style reminds me of Kaka."

Montolivo established himself as a key player for Milan after joining the club from Fiorentina on a free transfer in the summer of 2012, scoring four goals in 39 appearances in all competitions for the club last season.

The Italy international donned the captain's armband for the first time in November last year, when he inspired Milan to a 1-0 win over eventual Serie A champions Juventus.

ISCO: I REJECTED MAN CITY'S OFFER

Isco has admitted that the prospect of a move to Real Madrid is 'exciting' as Spanish reports claim he has rejected Manchester City to seal a move to Santiago Bernabeu.

Real and City have been leading the chase for the Spain international, who helped his country to European Under-21 Championship glory this summer.

Both teams have been locked in talks with Malaga, as Manuel Pellegrini looked to raid his old club for the brilliant young playmaker.
However, it now appears that Real Madrid, despite being without a coach, are set to win the race for his coveted signature.
Speaking to AS, Isco refused to confirm who he would be signing for but did say of Real: "Madrid excites me.
"They are one of the best teams in the world."
It is claimed that Madrid have agreed to a deal worth €30million (£25million), with the possibility of Denis Cheryshev joining Malaga.
As well as City, Isco is also reported to have shunned approaches from Monaco and Borussia Dortmund

HAMBURG KEEN ON ARSENAL'S DJOUROU

Hamburg are keen to bring Arsenal defender Johan Djourou back to the Bundesliga.

We would loan him [Djourou], but we would also buy him, depending on what Arsenal prefer.
Hannover played well in Europe last season, but Hamburg is Hamburg,
HSV is HSV, and we are just a better club.

– Hamburg's director of sport Oliver Kreuzer speaking to Bild

STOKE TO BID FOR PSV DEFENDER, ERIK PIETERS

Stoke chairman Peter Coates has confirmed the club are on the lookout for a new left-back this summer - and that Holland international Erik Pieters could be the man for the job.
The Potters are yet to recruit any new players since Mark Hughes' appointment as manager last month, although winger Jermaine Pennant has been given a new one-year contract.

The Staffordshire outfit have been linked with a move for PSV Eindhoven left-back Pieters, and, regarding the prospect of bringing in the 24-year-old, Coates told The Sentinel: "We are certainly looking for a left-back because we've only got Marc Wilson at the moment, and he was brought in as a midfield player.
"We haven't made any decision (on Pieters) because we are looking at options, but he's certainly a possibility."