The Spaniard has told the experienced attacker that he cannot afford to lose his temper again in the future as it could cost Bayern dearly

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has warned Franck Ribery to control his temper after the winger’s vengeful reaction toward Eintracht Braunschweig defender Benjamin Kessel in Wednesday’s 2-0 DFB Pokal win.

The former France international kicked out at Kessel after a strong challenge from the Eintracht man and was fortunate to escape a red card for his action.

Guardiola was not impressed with Ribery’s behaviour, and has told the winger a repeat will not be tolerated.

“It is incredibly dangerous when you end up playing with 10 against 11 in the Champions League. This will not happen again…,” Guardiola was quoted as saying by Sport Bild when questioned about Ribery’s action.

“A game like Wednesday’s one is like a final. We have to control ourselves.”

The Frenchman himself, meanwhile, feels his reaction did not cross the line.

“He tackled me with two legs forward. This could have been dangerous for me,” Ribery explained.

“Everything is alright, though. This is all part of the game. My intention wasn’t bad when I tackled him.”

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The Germany international has made it clear that he has a much better relationship with the Italian than he had with Pep Guardiola at Bayern

Toni Kroos has revealed that the presence of Carlo Ancelotti was one of the main reasons behind his decision to leave Bayern Munich for Real Madrid ahead of the 2014-15 campaign.

The Germany international endured a frosty relationship with Pep Guardiola during their time at Bayern, yet he has made it clear he is having no such problems with Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“Ancelotti’s also one of the reasons I came here – I think it’s normal to talk with the coach before taking that step,” Kroos told the official Uefa website.

“He gave me a positive impression and told me Madrid would be even stronger with me in their ranks. It was obviously a good conversation.

“He trusted me from the beginning in a position where I hadn’t played that much, which was nonetheless in midfield. I enjoy playing in this position.

“Our relationship is good. We communicate a lot before each game. We discuss how I have to approach each game according to the opponent we’re facing. I still don’t know every team that well, which is normal. But he tries to fill in the gaps.”

Kroos has made 39 appearances in all competitions for Madrid so far this term, scoring once.

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One of the game’s all-time greats believes the nation is equipped and ready to host the world’s biggest international football tournament

Brazil legend Pele says “now is the time” for Australia to host the Fifa World Cup.

The Socceroos only secured one of a possible 22 votes as Qatar controversially won the right to host the 2022 tournament to become the first Gulf state to stage the showpiece event.

The fallout from the controversial bidding process has been widespread, with concerns raised over a lack of transparency in voting and heavy criticism directed at Qatar over its treatment of migrant construction workers.

There are also concerns surrounding player welfare due to the excessive heat in Qatar, which has prompted a recommendation from Fifa to play the World Cup in November with the final on December 23.

The governing body’s proposal to shift the tournament from the northern hemisphere’s summer has sparked uproar and with that in mind, Pele – arguably the greatest ever player – feels Australia is ready to stage a World Cup.

“No doubt [Australia can host a World Cup]. I remember when I was in Australia a long time ago people already mentioned about Australia hosting the World Cup,” Pele told Perform.

“Now is the time, no doubt. The way to prepare for that is to have good players, (a) good team and have some players play outside of Australia.

“I think no doubt Australia could host the World Cup.”

Pele’s comments come after Fifa president Sepp Blatter recently wrote a column in the governing body’s weekly magazine stating that Australia “deserved” to host the showpiece tournament at some stage.

“Australia is the only continent never to have hosted the World Cup finals, although the 1981 and 1993 Under-20 World Cups took place there,” Blatter wrote.

“That is basically an unfortunate omission in sporting history because very few countries boast such a rich sporting culture and long list of champions.

“So we can say with confidence that it would be more than deserved if Australia were to stage the World Cup at some point.”

Pele will be in Australia to honour iconic football commentator Les Murray on March 26 and 27. To see Santos’ all-time leading goalscorer in Melbourne and Sydney, book your tickets at pelelive.com.au

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The former Tottenham coach believes his side adapted well to a vital relegation battle after claiming his first victory since taking the reins from Paul Lambert

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has joked that his side’s 2-1 win over West Brom – his first in charge of the club – is a better feeling than winning the Euromillions jackpot.

The 46-year-old guided his side to a vital three points in the first of two Midlands derbies this week, and his first since joining, after a late Christian Benteke penalty helped push Villa outside the relegation zone.

Sherwood admitted the three points are crucial for the club and as valuable as a EuroMillions lottery win.

He said: “It’s the best feeling in the world. When I left home this morning my Mrs said to me she had done the lottery euros for a £54 million jackpot. I said I’ll take three points all day. It means more to me.

“I think it shows the effort and how far we’ve come. We’ve improved every game and I think tonight was the best performance – especially in the first half.

“We dictated the pace of the game, controlled the football, moved it through midfield, created chances and should have been more than one nil up.

“We’ve got a group of players who are not really suited to a relegation battle to be honest.

“The old fashion style is blood and thunder and dig out results, so we had to change it and we have to play as if we’re not in a relegation battle and pass and move and I think we did that in the first half.”

West Brom entered the break 1-0 down, despite seeing Fabian Delph hit the post and Gabriel Agbonlahor have two attempts cleared off the line – one following a mistake from Ben Foster.

Foster’s challenge on Matt Lowton in the dying embers of the game then gifted the hosts the chance to score from the spot and Pulis admits his keeper had an off night.

He said: “I haven’t seen it but Ben should catch it anyway.

“Ben has been absolutely fantastic for us all season and he’s saved us points and won us games. He’s had an off night but there will nobody at this football club that will criticise Ben.

“I don’t have to speak to him – he knows.”

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The Blues skipper, who scored in Sunday’s League Cup final win over Tottenham, wants a new contract and insists he would never sign for a rival club

Chelsea captain John Terry insists that he is fighting for his future at the club.

The former England centre-back continued an impressive 2014-15 campaign by scoring in the 2-0 win over Tottenham in the League Cup final on Sunday as Jose Mourinho’s side claimed their first piece of silverware of the campaign.

But Terry insists that he is still unsure over his future at the club, with the defender’s contract due to expire at the end of the current campaign.

He told reporters: “The manager [Mourinho] came in, sat me down and made it clear if I worked hard I’d get extra years and would play, but if not there are others players who are younger who can play and will fight for the place. So I am fighting for my future, for my family’s future, and I want to give it everything.

“I don’t know how long I have left. Hopefully I have a few years left but if this is my last year then I hope it will go out on a bang. The uncertainty has helped me positively.

“The roles have reversed – you don’t have four or five years [of contract] ahead as you get older – and now the power is in the club’s hands. That has inspired me. I am fighting for myself and my family, and to prove people wrong. It doesn’t come much bigger than that.”

After the furore surrounding Frank Lampard’s exit from the club and the role he is now playing in Manchester City’s title push, Terry is adamant that he would not join a Premier League rival.

Asked if he would consider another English club, he said: “No, but there’s a right time to go as well. Certainly I am feeling great at the minute and it would be the wrong time to go.

“But there does come a point where it would be the right time to go, to say it’s time to move on and people will remember you that way. I have my little target to play next year but beyond that, two or three years? I don’t know.”

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