Bayern Munich opened a nine-point lead in the Bundesliga on Saturday with a 1-0 win at struggling Hannover as the Bavarian side wait to learn whether Pep Guardiola will leave at the end of the season.
Guardiola’s contract as head coach expires in June and the club say an announcement on the 44-year-old’s future plans will be made on Sunday when the German league begins the month-long winter break.
Daily newspaper Bild insist Guardiola will leave in May and claim Bayern have already made a verbal agreement for Carlo Ancelotti to take over.
Regardless of who will coach them next season, Bayern finish 2015 nine points clear after Thomas Muller converted a 40th minute penalty for his 14th league goal of the season when Hannover captain Christian Schulz conceded the spot-kick after the ball hit his arm.
“It was clear that Hannover weren’t going to give any points away, so we’re delighted to get the win,” Muller told Sky.
But after sealing Bayern’s 15th win in 17 league games, Muller said Guardiola has given no indication to the squad as to whether he will stay or go.
“We’ll see what happens. Regardless of who is coach, the squad just wants to keep winning,” added the Germany forward.
“We haven’t heard anything, it could be that he stays. Besides the media normally find out before we do.”
But this was the third game in succession where jaded Bayern have laboured to victory although they have still only dropped five points from their 17 games so far for a season’s tally of 46.
Second-placed Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, gifted the nine-point advantage after crashing to a 2-1 defeat at Cologne as the hosts scored twice in the final 10 minutes.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Haltia.ai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Arto%20Bendiken%20and%20Talal%20Thabet%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241.7%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self%2C%20family%20and%20friends%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
Most match wins on clay
Guillermo Vilas - 659
Manuel Orantes - 501
Thomas Muster - 422
Rafael Nadal - 399 *
Jose Higueras - 378
Eddie Dibbs - 370
Ilie Nastase - 338
Carlos Moya - 337
Ivan Lendl - 329
Andres Gomez - 322
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
