Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 8y

Pep Guardiola: Bayern Munich 'mole' no longer my problem

Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola has said he is no longer concerned about the identity of the "mole" at the club, telling reporters: "I will not be here next season."

On Friday, German tabloid Bild reported that there had been a heated dressing-room clash between Guardiola and Bayern's medical staff after the club's Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. 

Guardiola was reported to have complained that it was taking too long for his injured players to return, comparing the situation at Bayern to that at Atletico, whose defender Diego Godin featured in Wednesday's game after making a swift return from a muscular injury. Bild said winger Franck Ribery had intervened in the argument to prevent it escalating.

The former Barcelona boss, who will take charge of Manchester City in the summer, has also had repeated issues with a mole, or moles, leaking stories to the media during his three years at the Allianz Arena.

Speaking to news conference ahead of his penultimate Bundesliga match as Bayern coach, Pep Guardiola said that he is no longer concerned about the issue.

"What happens in the dressing room stays in the dressing room. The people who have talked tried to hurt me," he said. "It has happened many times in the past three years.

"I talk to the players, to other departments of the club. I give my opinion. Those people want to hurt me, but they have not realised that they hit the club, they hit the team."

He added: "I had this situation for three years. I have accepted it. I need to talk to the players. At the club, information is leaked to journalists. It's not a problem for me. I am used to it now."

Guardiola, whose Bayern side are five points clear in the Bundesliga with two games remaining, will take charge of the club for the final time on May 21 when they face Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Pokal final.

As such, he suggested the mole is now a problem for successor Carlo Ancelotti.

"I will not be here next season, but the person might still be around," he said. "It's a problem for the team."

When asked whether he is interested in finding out who leaked the information to the press, he said: "I don't have time to find that person. It's his [the mole's] problem."

Guardiola has been involved in clashes with the Bayern medical team in the past, with long-serving team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt quitting a year ago, while kicker has previously reported clashes with successor Dr. Volker Braun.

Some members of the Bayern squad continue to be treated by Muller-Wohlfahrt, who has been tipped to return next season, but Guardiola said his sole concern has been on ensuring Bayern were equipped to succeed.

He said: "I want that my players return from injuries as soon as possible. I always wanted the best for my team."

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