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Schalke dish out 498 stadium bans following derby trouble
20 January 2014
Schalke have handed out 498 stadium bans after trouble marred their Revierderby clash with Borussia Dortmund in October.
The match at the Veltins Arena – which finished 3-1 to Dortmund – was delayed as flares and smoke bombs were thrown from Dortmund's section of the crowd onto the pitch and at Schalke fans.
Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller had objects thrown in his direction as he pleaded for calm in front of the travelling faithful.
Eight arrests were made after trouble spilled from the stadium to the streets after the game and local police blamed the club for lax security afterwards.
As well as close to 500 people being banned from Schalke's stadium, a further 31 individuals have been given national stadium bans.
The orders will remain enforced until until June 30, 2019.
Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed the club turned down a "mad" bid from Chelsea for Franck Ribery in 2008.
The French winger was an integral part of the Bayern squad that won five trophies in 2013 and was one of three nominees for this year's Ballon d'Or, losing out to Cristiano Ronaldo.
And Rummenigge admits his relief at having rebuffed interest in the 30-year-old from various clubs, including Real Madrid, in the past.
"Ribery is a hero with the fans and it's a good thing that we didn't give in when Real Madrid and a few more teams showed an interest in signing him in 2008," he is quoted as saying by TZ.
"We solved everything like gentlemen with Madrid, although I must stress that there was no official offer. They made an enquiry and we closed the door on a move right away.
"We could have made a lot of money, because we also had an official offer from Chelsea that was utter madness. It was the right thing not to sell him, though.
"That showed all clubs that Bayern are a buying club rather than a selling club. That's the way it works with the big teams. You don't stand a chance if a team like Barcelona or Madrid don't want to sell and the same thing goes for Bayern these days."
Former Germany goalkeeper Tim Wiese has left Hoffenheim by mutual consent with immediate effect.
In a statement posted on the club's official website on Tuesday, Hoffenheim confirmed the exit of the 32-year-old, adding that further details could not be revealed for "legal reasons".
Wiese, who won the last of his six caps for Germany in 2012, arrived from Werder Bremen in May 2012 on a four-year deal and was initially made club captain, but soon lost his place in Hoffenheim's first team.
His last appearance came 12 months ago, in a 2-1 Bundesliga defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt, and he is now free to seek another club.
Hoffenheim chairman of the board Peter Rettig said his club had aimed to "find a reasonable solution for all parties".
Rettig added: "We are very relieved we have another difficult issue resolved satisfactorily."
Schalke chairman Clemens Tonnies believes that Julian Draxler should snub offers from abroad and continue his development in the Bundesliga.
The 20-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Premier League leaders Arsenal, who are thought to be in the market for attack-minded reinforcements after Theo Walcott was ruled out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.
Draxler's impressive performances have earned him international recognition, and he has 10 caps to his name for Germany so far.
However, Tonnies feels that the youngster should prolong his stay with the Gelsenkirchen outfit, and says that Schalke have no need to sell one of their prized assets.
"I am of the opinion that Julian should play for Schalke next season. That's my personal advice to him," Tonnies told Sport Bild.
"He should not let the interest from abroad play with his head. It's best for his development when he can play without much pressure and with a clear mind.
"Looking back, at the start of the season he was under a lot of pressure then and the exact same thing will happen again if he moves.
"There are a number of big clubs after him, but we have no intention of selling him this winter. Even if we do not qualify for next year's Champions League, that doesn't mean we will have to sell Julian."
Rummenigge praises Bayern finances amid excessive European spending
22 January 2014
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has criticised excessive spending in Europe and hailed the Bundesliga's financial model.
The Bavarian giants have enjoyed a period of sustained success in the past 18 months, claiming an unprecedented treble of the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and UEFA Champions League last season, while also winning the FIFA Club World Cup in December.
Rummenigge believes Bayern have accomplished those feats on the back of sensible spending, and feels the Bundesliga leaders are the only team in the world that can fund their success.
"The Bundesliga's financial model works very well. We do not spend more than we receive," Rummenigge is quoted as saying by Kicker.
"The Premier League will remain the number one league, but even if we cannot catch them, the Bundesliga is still a great example of 'affordable football'. We have to stay on this sustainable path.
"A club like Paris Saint-Germain have a €300 million payroll including taxes. It's impossible to finance that.
"Bayern are the only top 10 club in Europe making a profit. We are the only team that can actually afford our success."
Figures released by the club in November 2013 revealed a pre-tax profit of €22.5 million.
By Karolos Grohmann
BERLIN Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:28am GMT
Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller reacts during a training session at Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence in Doha January 6, 2014. REUTERS/Fadi Al-Assaad
(Reuters) - Leaders Bayern Munich must quickly ditch any lingering holiday spirit or risk a bumpy Bundesliga restart at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday, midfielder Thomas Mueller warned.
The Bavarians suffered a surprise 3-0 defeat to Austria's Salzburg in a friendly last week and Mueller said the result was proof that the runaway leaders needed to up the tempo against Gladbach.
"Gladbach will make our lives very difficult," Mueller said on Thursday. "We have to snap out of that holiday atmosphere because there are three points up for grabs."
"Saturday's defeat was good in a way because it showed us that with just half of our commitment you cannot achieve anything," said the Germany international.
Bayern stormed into a seven-point Bundesliga lead over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen and a further 11 from third-placed Gladbach before the traditional break in December. Borussia Dortmund are a further point behind in fourth.
They are through to the Champions League Last 16 where they will face English leaders Arsenal as they seek to become the first club to win back-to-back titles. They are also on track to defend the German Cup.
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola will have to deal with some injury problems, though, with Arjen Robben back in training in the last few days following a seven-week absence.
"I am obviously not at 100 percent yet," the 30-year-old Dutchman told reporters on Wednesday.
SCHWEINSTEIGER MYSTERY
Holding midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is also still nursing an ankle injury and missed training this week, making his participation also doubtful and raising questions about his fitness for the rest of the season.
The Germany international has failed to hit top form this season, plagued by the nagging injury that required surgery last year and saw him miss the start of the season.
Gladbach will be a tough nut to crack, having set a string of club records en route to a third-place finish at the start of the winter break. They have dropped just two points in their nine home games this season.
The five-times German champions will be without defenders Tony Jantschke and Roel Brouwers but will have Spaniard Alvaro Dominguez back after he broke his shoulder in October.
"We are ready for Bayern," said Dominguez, whose were unbeaten in eight games before the winter break.
"We have been training hard and we are third in the league after all. We want to give Bayern in their own stadium a run for their money."
Leverkusen, eager to remain on Bayern's heels and secure second spot, travel to lowly Freiburg on Saturday.
Fellow Champions League competitors Dortmund, still without injured Ilkay Guendogan, Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic, host Augsburg and are in desperate need of a home win after losing their last three league matches at their stadium.
Schalke, the fourth German team to advance in the Champions League, will be hoping striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will make his comeback after a five month injury absence when they travel to Hamburg on Sunday.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann. Editing by Patrick Johnston)
The Bundesliga may have had a month-long break but it was business as usual for Bayern Munich as they beat Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0.
Pep Guardiola's side had the majority of possession on Friday and created more than double that of their opponents as they extended their lead at the top of the table to 10 points.
Mario Gotze opened the scoring with a cool finish in the seventh minute, with Thomas Muller doubling the lead in the second half from the penalty spot.
Despite offering an impressive response, Monchengladbach were unable to get back into the game as Manuel Neuer made a couple of good saves and Patrick Herrmann hit the post.
The win moves Bayern 14 points clear of their third-placed opponents, giving Borussia Dortmund the opportunity to overtake Monchengladbach with victory over Augsburg on Saturday.
Bayern, the first team in Bundesliga history to win 15 of their first 17 matches, started with Gotze in a false-nine position and Xherdan Shaqiri, Muller and Thiago Alcantara offering support, while Mario Mandzukic was not included in the squad amid reports of a move to Juventus.
Gotze pulled his first opportunity wide of Marc-Andre ter Stegen's goal in the fifth minute, but made no mistake two minutes later with a crisp first-time finish.
Muller was released down the right by Rafinha and reached the byline before pulling the ball back to an unmarked Gotze, who calmly stroked the ball into the back of the net.
Bayern continued to dominate possession but were unable to work their way through the Monchengladbach defence, and the hosts eventually started to threaten at the other end.
However, Max Kruse again wasted a good opening as Neuer saved down low to deny the forward.
Thiago came close to doubling Bayern's lead early in the second half with a 25-yard strike, the Spaniard keeping his effort on target only for Ter Stegen to tip it round the post.
Eight minutes after the break the visitors did get their second goal as Granit Xhaka handled inside the penalty area.
Muller assumed responsibility from the spot and made no mistake in sending Ter Stegen the wrong way.
Neuer was called into action just after the hour and had to make two low saves.
When Monchengladbach did beat the goalkeeper, Herrmann's shot crashed against the post and bounced to safety.
Bayern negotiated the final 20 minutes comfortably and were able to introduce Arjen Robben following the Netherlands international's recovery from a knee injury sustained at the end of 2013.
Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels is on course to make his long-awaited return from injury at Eintracht Braunschweig next week.
The influential centre-back has been sidelined since sustaining an ankle injury in Germany's friendly victory over England at Wembley in November.
Hummels is back in training, but will not be fit for Dortmund's Bundesliga clash with Augsburg on Saturday.
The 25-year-old targeted the trip to Braunschweig next Friday for his comeback and Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has revealed he is on course to feature in that match.
"Hummels is completely symptom free and has worked well." Klopp said on Thursday.
Ilkay Gundogan is another player who has been sorely missed by Dortmund.
The 23-year-old has spent over five months on the sidelines due to a back injury and Klopp also confirmed the midfielder is close to returning.
Dortmund slipped to fourth in the table before the mid-season break and Klopp wants Sigan Iduna Park to become a fortress again to help his side secure a top-three finish.
"For us it is important that we qualify directly for the Champions League." he said.
"I want nobody to come to Dortmund and believe that they can get the three points."
Bayern Munich are still trying to convince midfielder Toni Kroos to sign a new deal, chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed.
The 24-year-old Germany international sees his current contract expire next year and the Bavarian giants are desperate for him to commit his future to the club.
But those talks have stalled, with Bayern – who have recently seen David Alaba and Jerome Boateng sign contract extensions – still battling to secure the signature of Kroos.
"To be honest…because the talks so far have not led to a new contract…it's always about the money in every agreement," Rummenigge told Kicker.
"We are interested that Toni prolongs his contract."
Rummenigge also reiterated that Bayern are interested in extending Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic's contract.
That is despite the impending arrival of Poland forward Robert Lewandowski, who will join on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season.
"He (Mario Mandzukic) is under contract until 2016. I have dropped hints to both him and his agent that we would be willing to hold talks," Rummenigge said.
"We are very pleased with him. There were quite a few people who shook their heads in disbelief when we signed him form Wolfsburg.
"But he was exactly the type of player we wanted. He has brought in those qualities, and we are very pleased."
Robert Lewandowski has denied allegations that he punched a teenager who reportedly made an offensive gesture towards him.
The young supporter is reported to have filed a complaint with police, alleging that the Borussia Dortmund striker struck him on the forehead as Lewandowski drove by his home in Dortmund.
Lewandowski, whose decision to join Dortmund's Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich next season has angered many fans, is said to have stopped his vehicle and got out to confront the teenager.
However, the 25-year-old vehemently denies accusations of violence.
"I want to clearly state that I never used violence against people who violated my private sphere," Lewandowski said in a statement on his Facebook page.
"I have no intention of teaching teenagers how to behave but I will not allow for my family and myself to be offended."
Poland international Lewandowski, who has signed a five-year contract at the Allianz Arena from the 2014-15 season, has received the backing of his current club.
"Robert explained that the boy showed him the middle finger, he then got out of the car, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him why he was doing such a thing," Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke told Bild.
"Robert swears he never hit the boy in the face and that he never even touched him. I believe Robert 100 per cent."
Mario Mandzukic looks set to leave Bayern Munich after club great Franz Beckenbauer said Robert Lewandowski suits Pep Guardiola better.
Mandzukic was crucial to Bayern's treble last season, scoring 22 goals in 40 matches, and while the Croatian striker has hit the back of the net 12 times in 24 fixtures this term, his future has been shrouded in doubt since confirmation Lewandowski will move to Bavaria from Borussia Dortmund in the 2014-15 campaign.
Speculation is rife in Germany and Italy that Mandzukic will be sold to Juventus during the current transfer window, which will only increase following Beckenbauer's comments on Friday.
"We have many players with which to rotate the squad," Beckenbauer told 11freunde.dr.
"Can Mandzukic be sold after Robert Lewandowski signed for Bayern? In truth, yes.
"Lewandowski's style is more suited to (head coach) Pep Guardiola's style of football, while we also have Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze."
Bayern bought Mandzukic from Wolfsburg for a reported fee of €13million in June 2012.
The 27-year-old has made 46 appearances for Croatia, scoring 13 goals at international level.
The curious case of Ji Dong-Won takes another twist on Saturday, when he could line up for his new employer against his future club.
South Korean Ji signed for Augsburg from Sunderland on a short-term deal for an undisclosed fee on January 16, before being unveiled as a close-season recruit for Borussia Dortmund just a day later.
The sequence of events places the 22-year-old in the tricky situation of trying to impress new boss Markus Weinzierl, while not making himself any enemies in the Dortmund camp as the two sides come head to head at Signal Iduna Park.
And Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp will be hoping Ji does not get off to a flying start for his temporary club, having seen his charges go on a three-match winless run before the mid-season break.
The 2012-13 UEFA Champions League and Bundesliga runners-up have tried to build some momentum over the past fortnight by playing four friendlies, three against lower-league opposition - and coming away with victory in each of them.
Klopp's men currently sit fourth in the league, 12 points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich, who also have a game in hand.
That deficit may be seem insurmountable without a catastrophic Bayern collapse, but Dortmund will be keen not to fall further behind Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach, who currently occupy the other two automatic Champions League qualification spots.
And they will feel confident heading into their first competitive game of 2014, having not lost to Augsburg in any of their last five meetings.
Furthermore, Dortmund won the reverse fixture 4-0 back in August, thanks in no small part to a hat-trick from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
But Augsburg - currently eighth in the top flight - have been in a rich vein of form of late, only losing one of their last seven league fixtures - a 3-0 defeat to leaders Bayern in November.
Klopp will be boosted by the news that Mats Hummels has returned to fitness and should be in line for a recall, while Ilkay Gundogan is also on the road to recovery.
The Dortmund boss is determined to turn his side's form around and ensure that opponents do not come to Signal Iduna Park confident of a result.
"For us, it is important that we qualify directly for the Champions League," he said. "I want no one to come to Dortmund and believe that he can get the three points."
BERLIN -- The Bundesliga resumes after its month-long winter break with defending champion Bayern Munich in a commanding position at the season's halfway stage.
Pep Guardiola's side is unbeaten, has scored more goals (42) and conceded fewer (8) than any other, has dropped points only twice and leads closest challenger Bayer Leverkusen by seven points — with a game in hand. While Leverkusen, Borussia Moenchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund hope to put the brakes on Bayern's title charge, their immediate concern will be qualifying for the lucrative Champions League. Wolfsburg, Hertha Berlin and Schalke are all close behind. Here are five things to know before the 18th round of games:
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WHAT'S LEFT FOR BAYERN?
After claiming five titles in 2013 and going the whole year without defeat in the Bundesliga, Bayern faces the task of improving on their near perfection in 2014. "We won't win the Champions League every season, but it would obviously be wonderful if we were always one of the top four teams," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.
Bayern's 41-game unbeaten streak is a Bundesliga record. Steaua Bucharest's European record of 104 league games unbeaten (1986-89) is still some way off, but Arsenal's Premier League record of 49 games (2003-04), and AC Milan's 58-game run in Italy (1991-93) are both within reach. No team has ever completed a Bundesliga season unbeaten.
Bayern starts the year with a difficult trip to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday. Third-place Moenchengladbach is unbeaten at home this season.
Full Time score
Borussia Moenchengladbach 0 : 2 Bayern Munich
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CATCH-UP DORTMUND
Borussia Dortmund was supposed to be Bayern's main challenger but a lack of efficiency and costly errors has combined to leave Juergen Klopp's side already 12 points behind Bayern. It could be 15 if Bayern wins its game in hand at Stuttgart on Wednesday. Dortmund's winter training camp in Spain did not go all to plan, with midfielder Nuri Sahin suffering a broken nose and Ilkay Gundogan, who had been out for months with a back problem, sent home with bronchitis. Last Saturday's 6-1 friendly win over third-division Duisburg has restored some optimism.
Fourth-place Dortmund welcomes Augsburg on Saturday. Augsburg was one of the surprise teams of the opening half to the season, with solid performances lifting it to eighth.
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RIVALS WARY OF WOLFSBURG
Fifth-place Wolfsburg hopes the attention-grabbing winter capture of Kevin de Bruyne from Chelsea will help the side clinch one of the four Champions League qualification places. Kicker reports that Wolfsburg sealed the deal for 22 million euros ($30 million), making the Belgian attacking midfielder the Bundesliga's most expensive winter transfer.
"We've got an agenda and we want to start breathing down the necks of the teams ahead of us," Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking said.
De Bruyne's arrival gives Hecking a conundrum, with five players — De Bruyne, Maximilian Arnold, Daniel Caligiuri, Diego and Ivan Perisic — now competing for three places.
Wolfsburg hosts Hannover on Saturday. The visiting side arrives with new coach Tayfun Korkut after firing Mirko Slomka in the winter break. Hannover, which is 13th, also brought in Latvia striker Artjoms Rudnevs from Bundesliga rival Hamburger SV until the end of the season.
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RELEGATION CANDIDATES
The bottom sides, Eintracht Braunschweig and Nuremberg, both have 11 points, but can take heart as four clubs previously survived relegation after being in the same position at the halfway stage since 1995-96. Augsburg managed to survive after claiming just nine points in the first half of the season.
Nuremberg is still waiting for its first win, however, with free-scoring Hoffenheim visiting on Saturday. Braunschweig visits northern rival Werder Bremen on Sunday, with hopes pinned on winter signing Havard Nielsen to improve the promoted side's meagre haul of 10 goals. The 20-year-old Norway striker failed to live up to expectations at previous club Salzburg of Austria.
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HARD-LUCK STORIES
Both Hamburger SV and Schalke are hoping their fortunes change for the better in 2014. Champions League participation is Schalke's target — the Gelsenkirchen-based club faces Real Madrid in this year's round of 16 — while Hamburg's ambitions have dwindled to avoiding a relegation fight. Hamburg, which was initially targeting the European qualification places, is just two points above Freiburg in the relegation play-off place.
Hamburg coach Bert van Marwijk is missing goalkeeper Rene Adler (ankle injury), attacking midfielder Maximilian Beister (cruciate ligament) and midfielder Tomas Rincon (suspension), while Marcel Jansen is doubtful with flu.
Schalke also has injury problems, with Julian Draxler (thigh) and Jan Kirchhoff (ankle) definitely out and a host of other players doubtful.
Hamburg's Bundesliga survival hopes have been dealt a double blow with injuries to Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Zhi Gin Lam.
Both players suffered the setbacks in the 3-0 defeat to Schalke on Sunday and it is still unclear how long they will be sidelined for.
On-loan striker Lasogga, has scored nine goal in 14 league appearances, suffered a thigh injury midway through the first half, with defender Lam withdrawn seven minutes later with an ankle problem.
"Pierre-Michel Lasogga has, as feared, suffered a torn muscle in his left thigh," the club confirmed in a statement on their official website. "This resulted in a detailed investigation on Monday, and the striker will definitely miss in the away match in Hoffenheim.
"How long he will be missed with the injury total, however, is not yet clear.
"Zhi Gin Lam also had to undergo a more thorough investigation when a ligament strain and contusion was diagnosed in his left ankle."
Defeat to Schalke was Hamburg's fourth consecutive Bundesliga loss and the result, combined with Freiburg's win over Bayer Leverkusen, saw Bert van Marwijk's side drop into the bottom three for the second time this season.
Bayern Munich's relentless march towards the defence of their Bundesliga title continues with a visit to Stuttgart on Wednesday.
The Bavarian giants have opened up a 10-point gap at the summit of Germany's top flight, which will extend to 13 with a maximum haul over Thomas Schneider's side at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Pep Guardiola's charges resumed the Bundesliga campaign following the mid-season break with a comfortable 2-0 triumph at Borussia Monchengladbach, and in the process became the first team to come away from Borussia-Park with all three points this term.
That win extended Bayern's unbeaten away league run to 27 matches, and there appears to be little to suggest Guardiola's men will not make that 28, with Bayern dropping points on just two occasions this term.
Indeed, Bayern have beaten Stuttgart in the last six league meetings between the sides, and have not left the Mercedes-Benz Arena empty handed since a 3-1 defeat in November 2007.
The visitors can also take heart from a 3-2 victory over Stuttgart in last season's DFB-Pokal final.
Defender and captain Philipp Lahm believes victory would be a huge blow to Bayern's title rivals.
"It's a huge opportunity to extend our lead," he told the club's official website. "It would be hard to catch us (if we win)."
Franck Ribery could return to the fold to enhance Bayern's chances of victory, with the midfielder having sat out the Monchengladbach victory with a leg injury, while Arjen Robben came off the bench in that game after recovering from a knee complaint and will be pushing for a recall to the starting XI.
Stuttgart head into the encounter with just one victory in their last five league matches, and suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Mainz on Saturday.
That poor return has seen the side slump to 12th position in the Bundesliga, though a win would see the side move up to 10th.
Captain Christian Gentner is eager for a good showing against Bayern to make amends for the Mainz defeat.
"We see this game as an opportunity," he told Stuttgart's official website. "We want to win back some credit with the fans with a good performance."
The BVB manager has admitted that at times his job can be “dirty” but insists it is a privilege to coach the club
Jurgen Klopp says he belongs at Borussia Dortmund and revealed what he believes to be the crucial reasons behind the club's disappointing season so far.
Klopp took charge at Signal Iduna Park back in 2008 and has since has led BVB to two Bundesliga titles, the DFB-Pokal and a solitary DFL-Supercup success.
However, after finishing runners-up in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League last season, the 46-year-old has endured a disappointing campaign at the Dortmund helm, with the club third in the league and 14 points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
However, Klopp says this has done little to dim his love affair with BVB and admits he has been blessed with both quality staff and players throughout his tenure.
“No-one has to ask me which club I am at, everybody knows where I belong,” the manager told Welt. “I was lucky at Mainz 05 and have been lucky at Borussia Dortmund. At these clubs you'll find a top team of players and a top team of trainers.
“The coach job can be a dirty job. They are responsible for the dismissal of many colleagues, but I have never said to a player: 'if we don’t win, you're gone’. This would be extraordinary." said the 46-year-old.
Klopp then cited a lack of concentration as the reason behind his team's struggles this term, but he also noted the spate of injuries to key players as another hard felt blow.
"Maybe we find that we sometimes lack concentration," admits the coach. "However injuries can also be a problem.
“We moved into the knockout stages of the Champions League without seven injured players. This is extraordinary."
Pep Guardiola has defended his decision to drop Mario Mandzukic and denied reports that he has fallen out with the Bayern Munich striker.
The Croatia forward was omitted from Bayern squad's for the 2-0 win at Borussia Monchengladbach last Friday, leading to further reports that he is set to leave the club.
Guardiola was reportedly unimpressed with Mandzukic's performances in training following the announcement that Robert Lewandowski will join the German and European champions at the end of the season.
Juventus and Manchester United are just two of a host of clubs who have been linked with a move for the 27-year-old, who has scored 10 goals for the Bavarian giants this term.
Bayern coach Guardiola has not decided if Mandzukic will be back in the squad to face Stuttgart on Wednesday, but played down talk of a rift with the former Wolfsburg man.
He said at a press conference on Tuesday: "After a workout, I'll decide (whether Mandzukic will feature against Stuttgart),
"We have a big squad. In every game I have to decide for 18 players. It will happen almost every week, that one, two, three super-super players can not in the squad with us."
Guardiola became increasingly irked by questions about Mandzukic and stressed that the decision to leave the striker out against Gladbach was for the good of the team.
He added: "This is the third question about Mandzu. That's enough. You know my opinion. There is no problem. It was my decision for the final game.
"In the first round Mandzu played. For Thomas Muller or Claudio Pizarro sometimes not. In this situation, I see and analyse what is best for the team. That's the only reason. There is no other."
Wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben will play no part against Stuttgart due to "muscular problems", while Holger Badstuber, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Daniel van Buyten and Javi Martinez all remain sidelined.
Robben came on as a substitute in Friday's win at Gladbach following a spell on the sidelines with a knee problem, but revealed after the game that he is still not fully fit.
Pep Guardiola admitted there is a possibility he could lose Toni Kroos after the midfielder refused to rule out leaving Bayern Munich.
The Germany international has played an integral role in the European champions' impressive first season under Guardiola so far.
However, Kroos has just 18 months remaining on his contract and the 24-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester United.
United boss David Moyes was at Borussia-Park to watch Bayern's 2-0 win against Borussia Monchengladbach last Friday, sparking further speculation that the Premier League champions were preparing a bid for Kroos.
Former Barcelona coach Guardiola is eager to keep the player at the Allianz Arena, but knows there is a danger he could move on.
"He is an important player," Guardiola said. "But it can go fast in football. Here today, there tomorrow."
Kroos has already turned down an offer of an extension from Bayern, and told Kicker-Sportmagazin on Tuesday that he would be "unable to rule anything out" with regard to his future.
"I am under contract with Bayern Munich. Actually, there are, (as) yet, no further talks scheduled, I will therefore fully focus on the second half of the season," he added.
The German top flight is celebrating a ninth successive annual turnover record, breaking all previous highs in 2012-13
The Bundesliga made a record €383.5 million profit in 2012-13, the Deutsche Fussball League (DFL) has announced.
The figures, released on Tuesday as part of the Bundesliga Report 2014, highlight further fantastic growth in the German top flight, with the DFL also revealing that the league recorded a ninth successive turnover record during last season. A total of €2.17 billion marked a 4.4 per cent gain on 2011-12.
"The Bundesliga is succeeding in the split between top level sports performance and economic rationality, especially compared to others in Europe," said Christian Seifert, CEO of the DFL.
"Thanks also to the further increases with the media contracts that take effect this season, the league is on the road to extending its position as the second-strongest earning football league in Europe."
Further evidence of the economic stability is the confirmation that player salaries for 2012-13 were equal to just 39 per cent of total revenue.
The 2.Bundesliga also recorded excellent economic growth for last season, with a €419.4m turnover marking a 9.1% annual gain.
Bayern Munich were triumphant in the Bundesliga in 2012-13, winning the league some 25 points ahead of Borussia Dortmund, before going on to beat BVB 2-1 in the Champions League final at Wembley in May.
Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery is hopeful of returning to competitive football when his side host Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
Ribery returned to training on Thursday ahead of the club's Bundesliga fixture at the weekend, as Bayern look to extend their 13-point lead at the top of the table.
The Frenchman – who finished third in the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or vote – has not made a competitive appearance in 2014.
His only outing this year came in a 2-0 friendly win over Al Merreikh on January 9, with muscular problems sidelining him since.
"I hope that I can play on Sunday against Frankfurt," Ribery told Bild.
"We (did) not want to take any risks (hence my recent absence)."
Ribery last played a Bundesliga match on December 14, but he did help the European champions to victory in the FIFA Club World Cup after that.
