MUNICH — Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola made a high-profile return to football Wednesday when he led out his players at the start of pre-season training in front of an estimated 10,000-crowd at the Allianz Arena. The former Barcelona coach, who signed a three-year contract at Bayern this year after taking a break following his departure from Barcelona in 2012, emerged from the dugout to loud cheers from thousands of Bayern fans. “I love to attack,” Guardiola had told reporters Monday and he ordered the grass to be cut short and watered before training so the pitch was quick. Spectators, gripped by what German media have called ‘Pep-mania', paid five euros each with the money going to help for the victims of the recent German floods. Thursday's training is also open for fans. Guardiola, wearing shorts on a chilly day, was missing several players including Brazilians Dante and Luiz Gustavo and Spaniard Javi Martinez who are all on Confederations Cup duty. Dutchman Arjen Robben and Croat Mario Mandzukic have also not returned yet and new signing Mario Goetze, who joined from rival Borussia Dortmund, is recovering from a muscle injury. Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was rested following minor foot surgery three weeks ago but striker Mario Gomez, reportedly close to a transfer to Italy, was training with the team. Midfielder Toni Kroos was also back on the pitch after missing the last two months of the season with an adductor muscle injury as were several players from the reserve team. Expectations are high for the 42-year-old Spaniard, who won 14 of 19 possible titles in his four seasons at the Spanish club and until signing with Bayern was the most sought-after coach in the sport. Bayern last season became the first German team to win a treble of titles, including the domestic German league and Cup double and the Champions League, under Jupp Heynckes. Meulensteen leaves Man United Manchester United confirmed Wednesday that first team coach Rene Meulensteen has left the club. The 49-year-old Dutchman has departed following new manager David Moyes' decision to bring in his own backroom staff. Meulensteen thanked the club's owners, his colleagues, the players and fans “who made my time at Manchester United very special and one I will never forget.” Fenerbahce punished Fenerbahce was expelled from the Champions League for the second time in three seasons and Besiktas was banned from the Europa League after the Turkish clubs were punished by UEFA Tuesday over separate charges of match-fixing. Fenerbahce was banned from the next three UEFA club competitions for which it would have qualified, starting with next season's Champions League, in relation to a long-running fixing case that dates back to the Istanbul club's league-winning run in 2011. UEFA said the sanction for the third competition is deferred “for a probationary period of five years.” Fenerbahce finished second in the Turkish league last season and was set to enter the Champions League at the third qualifying-round stage, needing to beat two opponents to enter the lucrative 32-team group stage. The club was banished from the 2011-12 Champions League after the initial fixing allegations were made. Besiktas' punishment stemmed from charges of fixing relating to the 2011 Turkish Cup final, which it won on penalties over city rival Istanbul BB. Besiktas had qualified for the Europa League by finishing third in the league last season. — Agencies
