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EURO BITES: Bundesliga - Criticism of Germany from Manuel Neuer, Injury problems for Bayern Munich, and Gerd Muller’s illness confession

A round up of the latest news surrounding Germany and the Bundesliga, including mounting injury problems for Bayern Munich.

A STRIKING GERMAN PROBLEM

Germany qualified for Euro 2016 in France with a 2-1 win over Georgia Sunday night, but there was no joy in Manuel Neuer’s words after the game. “You might have thought we are playing Italy or Spain,” the national team goalkeeper said as he heavily criticised his teammates.

After two dull performances this week that almost cost the Germany automatic qualification, the wasted chances lack of creativity triggered yet another discussion about the lack of talented German strikers.

In the Bundesliga, Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang lead the list of top scorers, followed by Thomas Müller with eight goals (of which three have been scored from the penalty spot). Suggestions for the Mannschaft have been to bring back 30-year-old Mario Gomez, or introduce 32-year-old Frankfurt striker Alexander Meier.

MORE TROUBLESOME INJURIES FOR BAYERN MUNICH

Bayern Munich are facing up to more injury problems when many of their squad return from international duty this week.

Mario Götze was injured during Germany’s 1-0 loss to Ireland last Thursday and will most likely miss all games up to the winter break, due to severe adductor problem.

Munich’s newest star Kingsley Coman will probably miss at least one game after his trip to Scotland with France’s U21 squad.

And Arturo Vidal, currently playing for Chile in World Cup qualifiers, is said to have serious knee problems allegedly ignored by doctors due to the important upcoming match against Peru.

On the positive side, Franck Ribéry, injured since last March, has started on the comeback trail, while Arjen Robben is expected back on Saturday against Werder Bremen.

JURGEN KLOPP’S APPOINTMENT AT LIVERPOOL RAISES PRIDE AND CONCERN AT HOME

While Jürgen Klopp’s appointments as Liverpool coach is celebrated back home with a pinch of pride, several Bundesliga teams are concerned he will try recruit players to England – especially since the well-financed Premier League has the means to do so.

In an interview with Bild, Klopp denied any plans to headhunt players of his former club Borussia Dortmund but that has not stopped a host of Bundesliga stars being linked with Liverpool.

BAYERN MUNICH GOES PUBLIC WITH GERD MÜLLER’S ILLNESS

“Without his goals, Bayern Munich would never be what it is today”, the club’s honorary president Franz Beckenbauer stated last week about his former teammate Gerd Müller.

The legendary striker of the 60′s and 70′s, scoring 398 goals for Bayern and 68 for the national team, will turn 70 on November 3rd.

But prior to his birthday, the club publicly announced what has been a Munich rumour for quite some time: Müller is suffering from Alzheimer´s disease since at least last February. They stated that no festivities or press conferences are planned for his birthday.

Between 1992 and 2014, Müller had been assigned as co-manager to Bayern Munich’s U23 squad.

LUCIEN FAVRE MIGHT STAY IN GERMANY

When Lucien Favre resigned from his job as manager at Borussia Mönchengladbach after five losses in a row, his future in Germany looked over.

Although the 57-year-old Swiss will not necessarily be back in work before the Bundesliga winter break, he could well have a job for next season.

RB Leipzig, a well-financed second Bundesliga team, could not deny rumours that Favre’s name is on a list of possible managers for the 2016/17 season.

The team is currently managed by former Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick, who is planning to become Leipzig’s general manager again.

WERDER BREMEN FACING STRIKER CRISIS

Werder Bremen are facing a striker crisis ahead of their upcoming home game against Bayern Munich.

Claudio Pizarro is expected to be jetlagged from a South America trip for Peru’s national team, and United States national Aaron Johannsson is suffering from a rare nerve disorder.

This might be the reason why all of a sudden, Melvyn Lorenzen is back in training with the professionals - despite a suspension in Werder’s U23 team the previous weekend.

The 20-year-old from London was suspended after showing up at the meeting point for the trip to third league opponent Erfurt holding a thick French bread sandwich in his hand – clearly violating the players’ nutrition plan.