Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has ruled out moving to another team this season, pledging his immediate future to the Bundesliga club. The France international has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks that he could join Real Madrid, whose ambitious president Florentino Perez is keen on signing him. Ribery said yesterday: "I can't stop clubs making offers for me, and it was not only Real.
"There was also Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea. What I can tell them is that I am still at Bayern today. "The doors are truly shut. My directors really want me to stay." New Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal is satisfied with his team's performances so far, even though they could manage only a 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen on Saturday. Like his predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann, who was sacked mid-season last campaign, Van Gaal has drawn his first two games in charge - and a distance of four points has already grown to league leaders Wolfsburg.
But he is convinced his team are taking steps in the right direction. "I am not happy with the result, but I am satisfied with the game," he said. "We played excellently in the first 30 minutes, but we just lacked a goal - and then Werder scored with their first attack. "That was disappointing for the players, and it was easy for Bremen then to play with 10 men in defence. "Nevertheless, we created six or seven chances - and I am happy with that. I think that, given the chances we had in the second half, we would have deserved to win."
Bayern travel to Mainz next weekend before hosting champions Wolfsburg, who have come out of the blocks flying, at the Allianz Arena in a fixture which, even at this early stage of the season, could have a bearing on the title. * Agencies