The Bayern coach remains modest irrespective of all the praise and has admitted that a crucial period awaits as the Bavarians dream of the treble

Pep Guardiola has dismissed suggestions that he is the best coach in the world as he feels the players are the ones making the difference in the end.

The Bayern Munich boss is widely regarded as one of the best tacticians in the game, yet he remains humble despite all the praise.

“I am not the best coach in the world,” Guardiola said at a press conference. “I am only here to help my players.

“I am very motivated and have a lot of faith in my players.”

Guardiola then went on to admit that a crucial period awaits Bayern as they aim to secure the treble this term.

“I am going through the most difficult period at Bayern since I got here,” the former Barcelona trainer stated. “These next few months are a huge challenge to me.

“April is a decisive month. Every game is like a final. The players must understand that we demand even more now. We are the ones to blame if we don’t win.”

The Catalan also had his say on Saturday’s Bundesluga encounter with Borussia Dortmund, insisting that expects a tight affair even though BVB currently sit 10th in the standings, 31 points behind his table-toppers.

“The game against Dortmund is still a Klassiker, regardless of their position in the table,” Guardiola added. “BVB have a great team.

“I expect them to play attacking football, but I want us to dominate. I think it will be a great game.”

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The Borussia Dortmund defender has admitted that he could see himself moving to England but says the German top flight is more technical

Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic says he would like to play in a “physical” league like the Premier League, but insists the best football is played in the Bundesliga.

Subotic has been a key player for Dortmund for the last seven years, winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012 and reaching the 2013 Champions League final, but has been unable to prevent Jurgen Klopp’s men from enduring a dramatic slump this season.

While he insists Germany’s top flight has the highest technical level in Europe, the 26-year-old admits the thought of a move to England has crossed his mind.

“The best football is played in the Bundesliga, which has established itself in internationally very well,” he told Kicker. “It is as much on a high as the DAX [the German equivalent of the FTSE 100].

“I can still imagine playing in a league someday which rates physical football. The game in England is tougher, more aggressive and more physical, in a sportsmanlike sense. As a centre-back I don’t always want to fear just touching an opponent.

“How can I do my work when my opponent starts crying without contact? And penalties being awarded after dives annoy me, I think that’s cheating.

“I just don’t like it when an attacker is going at what feels like one kilometre an hour and flies like he’s been hit by a car.

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The Spanish midfielder has admitted that the former Barcelona coach was one of the main reasons he left the Santiago Bernabeu to join Bayern Munich last year

Xabi Alonso says Pep Guardiola was one of the main reasons he chose to join Bayern Munich from Real Madrid.

The midfielder moved to the Bundesliga champions last year and has been a pivotal player for the league leaders this term.

And Alonso says Guardiola was one of the main factors that persuaded him to move to Bavaria.

“After beating Atletico in the Champions League final last year, it seemed like the time had come to do something different again,” he told Fifa Weekly. “I thought the time was right to try something new with one of the world’s best teams and in one of the best three leagues in Europe.

“There were many good reasons to move to Bayern, and Pep Guardiola was definitely one of them. I immediately realised how Guardiola’s unique intensity has enabled him to achieve so much in his relatively short career so far.

“To be able to learn even more about football under his guidance is incredibly motivating and offers a great challenge. He’s a rigorous thinker and worker, very analytical, a great tactician and a methodical innovator.

“Pep understands everything about the game. He doesn’t force his way of thinking on us players; instead he convinces us about his ideas.

“If you can manage that as a coach, you know your players will push themselves even further and fight even harder for the team’s shared goals.”

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Smith was stretchered off with a broken leg at Anfield but says reports about attacks from Reds fans were incorrect

Former Manchester United striker Alan Smith has set the record straight about the Liverpool fans who allegedly attacked the ambulance after he broke his leg at Anfield, report the Liverpool Echo.

Smith suffered a broken leg and a dislocated ankle in a challenge with John Arne Riise during an FA Cup tie at Anfield in 2006 which Liverpool won 1-0.

It was widely reported at the time that Reds fans rushed out of the King Harry pub when it became clear that the ambulance carrying Smith to hospital had become trapped in traffic.

Reports claimed that bottles, beer glasses and stones were hurled at the vehicle and some even rocked the ambulance and tried to overturn it.

Liverpool and Manchester United later issued a joint statement condemning the incident.

But nine years on Smith, now Notts County player-coach, has put the record straight in an interview in the FourFourTwo magazine.

Asked about the incident, he said: “It didn’t happen – fans were still in the ground. I went back to Liverpool a few years later with Newcastle and had a great reception.

“I had loads of mail from fans after the injury, including a lot from Liverpool. And Liverpool’s medical staff were great.

“They were worried that because there was no blood flowing that I could have had a club foot. Some might say I might as well have in my left foot now!”

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The 64-year-old saw his side lose for a second consecutive game against Holland following on from their World Cup thrashing last summer

Vicente Del Bosque rued Spain’s profligacy in front of goal as Netherlands inflicted a 2-0 defeat on his side in Amsterdam on Tuesday.

The European champions have begun to show the form expected of them in recent Euro 2016 qualifying matches, however they have now not won a friendly match since June.

Goals from Stefan De Vrij and Davy Klaassen inside 16 minutes secured victory for Guus Hiddink’s side, while goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer was on hand to deny Spain on the rare occasions they tested the Dutch goal.

“The first 20 minutes have burdened us,” said Del Bosque. “It seems impossible we wouldn’t score.

“We have taken command of the game, we’ve been all over them and have reached the penalty area, but we lacked a goal.”

The 64-year-old handed first appearances to Juanmi and Vitolo after their impressive club form, and Del Bosque was pleased with what he saw.

“The two rookies have had good performances,” he added. “Vitolo has been very active and Juanmi looked like scoring.”

Spain were beaten 5-1 by Holland at last summer’s World Cup before exiting the competition at the group stage.

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The coach believes the 23-year-old right-back has been rewarded for his work rate after it was announced he would join Carlo Ancelotti’s side in a €31.5 million deal in the summer

Porto coach Julen Lopetegui has praised Real Madrid bound right-back Danilo for developing “all aspects of his game” in the last few years.

The defender is set to join the world and European champions this summer after they agreed a €31.5 million deal with the Portuguese side.

Lopetegui has been impressed by the 23-year-old’s work rate and the way he has improved since joining from Santos in January 2012.

“This year he wanted to learn to improve in all aspects of his game – tactically, physically and in his concentration,” he is reported as saying by AS.

“Danilo has helped us improve and the team has grown collectively.

“He has progressed very quickly because he understood what we asked and, like the rest of the team, he wanted to grow and grow at Porto despite being a young player.”

The coach says he has no issue with the club selling the full-back, saying it gives them the chance to bring new young players through.

“We already knew the strategy of the club and the coach has to adapt to what they give you,” he added. “This will allows us to work with younger players that motivates us to polish and perfect them.”

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