Heynckes: No Pep talk

Jupp Heynckes says he does not need Pep Guardiola's advice on how to beat Barcelona on Tuesday night.



Bayern Munich's outgoing boss must mastermind a two-legged victory over the team built by his successor if the Germans are to reach a second successive UEFA Champions League final next month.

But ahead of the first leg at the Allianz Arena Heynckes made it clear Guardiola is not Bayern's manager just yet.

"I admire Pep Guardiola, but I don't need any advice from other coaches," he said at the pre-match press conference in Munich.

"I know my team better than anybody and I also know a lot about Spanish football and Barcelona. There has been no kind of contact at all."

Bayern have been beaten finalists in two of the past three years, but Heynckes rubbished suggestions last season's failure to get the job done on home soil against Chelsea would weigh heavily almost 12 months on.

He said: "Bayern are currently playing the most modern, contemporary football in the history of this club.

"We will not be wasting any thoughts on the failure against Chelsea last year. We have a plan for the game."

Lionel Messi is expected to be fit for the game, but Heynckes said: "I expect he will be able to play and it is not something which is causing me a headache. Barca are about more than just Messi."
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Del Bosque backs Guardiola as top coach

Vicente del Bosque says he has voted for Pep Guardiola to win the 2012 FIFA Coach of the Year award.



The Spain coach was named on the final three-man shortlist for the prize, along with the former Barcelona boss and Jose Mourinho on Thursday.



"I voted for Guardiola because he is an important figure within our football," he told Terra.



"I did not do it on a whim, to support Barcelona or because of any 'anti-madridismo'. It would be good if he went back to work. He is young, has added things to the game and is passionate about this sport."



Del Bosque has also been impressed with the transition at Camp Nou since Tito Vilanova replaced Guardiola at the helm during the summer.



"Tito has taken over naturally. The important thing is that he has been able to maintain the enthusiasm of these players, who have won so much," he said.



The 61-year-old's next major assignment will be getting Spain ready to participate in next year's Confederations Cup and the former Real Madrid boss said preparation is absolutely paramount if his side are to continue their dominance.



"It will be a test ahead of the next World Cup. Our last experience of the competition before South Africa was good because we got to know everything that was waiting for us ahead of the World Cup," he said.



"In Spain we have lost a lot of the fear (we had before) of promoting a player from the 'cantera'. Clubs are conscious they have to take care of them and that benefits the national team. We have to trust the youngsters because they are very talented kids."

Monday's round up of the top transfer stories

- Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has put Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United on alert after indicating he is ready to return to management, according to the Sunday Mirror.



- Stephan El Shaarawy is set for a new contract at AC Milan amid continued interest from Manchester City in the striker.



- Manchester City are ready to join the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester United in the race to sign Santos striker Neymar, according to The People.



- Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Willian should only join Arsenal, Chelsea, or Manchester United should he move to the Premier League, according to team-mate Eduardo, who doesn't believe Tottenham are a big enough club for the Brazilian.



- Liverpool are hopeful of signing Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in January for just £6million, according to the Sunday Mirror.



- Galatasaray want to sign Joe Cole in loan in January - and are willing to pay the majority of his £100,000 a week wages, writes The Sunday People.



- Emmanuel Adebayor is wanted by Atletico Madrid as he looks for a way out of Tottenham – just 10 weeks after sealing a move to White Hart Lane, writes The Sunday People.



- Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen, who continues to be linked with a move to Liverpool, insists he was right to snub a move to Premier League champions Manchester City, telling the Daily Mirror: "I remember my agent calling me to tell me that they had come in for me, but I told him straight away that I did not see any point in ­moving to ­Manchester City – and I still don’t. At the end of my career, we will see if I took the right decision."



- Zenit St Petersburg are ready to enter the race for Liverpool target Fernando Amorebieta.



- Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby has brushed aside speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal.



- Marouane Chamakh says he is facing a make-or-break season at Arsenal - and has hinted at a return to former club Bordeaux.



- Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones is ready to make a return to England if he is not given a new deal at the German club.



- Juventus are hoping to persuade Mehdi Benatia to turn down both Chelsea and Barcelona to stay in Italy, according to talkSPORT.



- Aston Villa are already looking at replacements for Darren Bent – and are ready to chase Saint-Etienne striker Pierre Aubameyang, writes The Sunday People.



- Bradford have signed Sunderland defender John Egan on loan until the new year, subject to Football League clearance.



- Roma's sporting director Franco Baldini admits the club will always listen to offers for Daniele De Rossi - but that does not mean they will sell.



- Santos have confirmed their interest in signing Paris Saint Germain midfielder Nene.



- Sky Sports understands Hull City have agreed a deal to re-sign Manchester United starlet Robbie Brady on loan