Barcelona's Lionel Messi Says Bayern Munich Have A And That The Bundesliga Outfit Are Stronger Than Last Season.

The Bavarian outfit have stormed to the top of the Bundesliga and a difficult Champions League Group A, and the Argentine feels Jupp Heynckes' side are a European threat and to following the summer appointment of Jupp Heynckes in the Allianz Arena outfit have impressed both domestically and in Europe, unlike in their disappointing 2010-11.

The Spanish side looking to make it three Champions League crowns in four years this term, their South American attacker has identified the Bavarians as a key contender in the continent's top club competition for the bayern have a great team, and a very dangerous team," the diminutive forward told Bild.

They are stronger than last year in the except for Bastian Schweinsteiger they are all in top form and importantly, the final of the Champions League takes place in their stadium this is also a plus for them the 24-year-old stated to when asked if he would ever consider leaving the Camp Nou for another club, Messi remained defiant in his answer.

My plan is to play my whole career for Barcelona and i would only go when I'm not good enough or the club does not want me, he concluded for the barcelona and Bayern Munich look like two of the favourites for this campaign's Champions League and are on the verge of qualification from Group A and H respectively.

Why Sir Alex Ferguson Is The Greatest Survivor And The Football's Top Names Pay Tribute To The Longevity Of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Berlin were at number one with the theme to Top Gun when Sir Alex Ferguson took charge of Manchester United in November 1986 to a more appropriate cinematic reference from the autumn of that year is Highlander the story of an ageless Scottish warrior whose feats transcend time and the ferguson's kind of magic is his ability to win trophies and his haul of silverware and his longevity at Old Trafford are undoubtedly related.

And the putting to one side his repeated successes, the fact he has lasted 25 years as United manager is an unprecedented achievement at any level in the professional game in the modern era in England, let alone the very highest for there are 13 managers above him in the long-serving list in this country but all of them began their tenures more than 100 years ago and cannot be fairly compared.

Unless, like Highlander's Connor MacLeod, Ferguson really IS immortal, he is unlikely to outlast Fred Everiss to a spent 46 years as manager of West Bromwich Albion from 1902, for example for a back then, management was more of an administrative role than the delicate mix of tactical nous, mind games, media and man-management plus financial acumen that it is now.

It has become a cut-throat business to since its formation in 1992, the average time spent in situ by Premier League managers is 4.09 seasons and, in the entire Football League and the drops to 2.14 seasons in the same period to the League Managers' Association (LMA), a body Ferguson helped form almost 20 years ago, 1,052 managers in the English game have been sacked, resigned or left by mutual consent since he was appointed to replace Ron Atkinson on 6 November 1986.

David Beckham Says 'Will Know When To Quit' Football & Beckham Flattered By Interest From Premier League And PSG.

David Beckham says he can still perform at the highest level and that he will know when it is time to quit football and los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Beckham, 36, also restated his aim to represent the Great Britain football team at the 2012 Olympics for the "People have been saying, i am too old for the last 10 or 15 years and I've still continued to play for my country," he told BBC Sport.

Right now, I feel fit and still love playing, so I'm not finishing yet and he said he was "flattered" by reports linking him to top European clubs but that he was focused on helping LA Galaxy attain success in Major League Soccer in paris Saint-Germain are said to be keen to sign Beckham, who told BBC sport editor David Bond that "certain clubs in the Premiership" have also shown an interest.

And the Beckham, whose five-year deal with Galaxy runs out in the next few weeks, said: "At 36-years-old, to still have that interest in me is an honour, I'm very flattered and right now I'm a Galaxy player and I will continue to be a Galaxy player until we win the league the MLS Cup and then we'll see for the i haven't even sat down and thought about what my options are yet.

Beckham also says he might be interested in buying a team in the United States when he gives the game up and he added: "I have the option and it's something I probably will do a obviously I have to wait until I finish playing and i want to be part of something that is going to grow and I believe that this sport is going to grow.

The Argentina Legend Diego Maradona Says Football Needs AC Milan's Antonio Cassano.

The Argentina legend offered his solace for the Rossoneri star who is in hospital and waiting to undergo an operation that will keep him out of action for some time and the Al Wasl coach Diego Maradona has offered Antonio Cassano his full support after learning the Italian striker requires heart surgery for a AC Milan announced Cassano needs surgery to his heart after tests showed he suffered cerebal trauma following the 3-2 Serie A win over Roma on Saturday.

An extract of the note reads to these are very difficult moments where Cassano must be strong, think about himself to his family and children. I am thinking of you a lot in these days and I was struck by what has happened and i know the feelings when going through a dark period and so I am close to you and Gennaro Gattuso who is also going through a sad time.

And i know that from the time I met you in Rome that you have a strong and positive character to the affections of those who love you will help you overcome this i hope football can see your return soon because the fantasy of players like you in football is never enough and the milan said Cassano would be out for some time once surgery is completed, but they did not confirm how many months.

A Team News For The Alexis Sanchez Returns To The Bench As Isaac Cuenca Earns Starting Slot For Barcelona Versus Viktoria Plzen.

Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol partner each other at the back as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Javier Mascherano are left on the bench for the European champions and the barcelona welcome back Alexis Sanchez from injury, who is fit enough to earn a place on the bench in tonight's Group H Champions League encounter with Czech side Viktoria Plzen and the Catalan side managed to defeat 2-0 in their last European match.

Pep Guardiola also awards Isaac Cuenca another start as the young Spaniard continues to impress in barca attack and there is no place in the squad for David Villa as Adriano takes up the role on the left of the attacking trio and viktoria Plzen opt for a 5 man midfield against the European Champions and Marek Bakos is selected in the lone striker role.

Viktoria Plzen (4-5-1): Pavlik, Limbersky, Bystron, Cisovsky, Pilar, Horvath, Petrzela, Jiracek,
Kolar, Rajtoral, Bakos

Subs: Tichacek, Reznik, Sevinsky, Fillo, Darida, Duris, Hora

Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Fabregas, Thiago, Busquets, Adriano, Cuenca, Messi

Subs: Pinto, Maxwell, Xavi, Iniesta, Mascherano, Keita, Sanchez

Jordan Rhodes Has Won His First Call-up For Scotland's Friendly With Cyprus & Barry Bannan Has Been Dropped From The Squad.

Norwich defender Russell Martin and Queens Park Rangers striker Jamie Mackie have also won recalls from Scotland boss Craig Levein and the mackie's last appearance for the Scots was almost a year ago against the Faroe Islands for the Martin earned his only cap against Wales in the Carling Nations Cup in May.

Levein revealed over the weekend that in-form Huddersfield striker Rhodes was in line for his 1st senior cap against Cyprus and that he would link up with the Under 21 squad for the European Championship qualifier against Holland on 14th November for the aston Villa midfielder Bannan has been omitted from the squad, following his arrest on suspicion of drink-driving and the rangers forward Steven Naismith and Celtic midfielder Scott Brown are both missing through injury.

Full squad:

Allan McGregor (Rangers), David Marshall (Cardiff City), Matt Gilks (Blackpool), Phil Bardsley (Sunderland), Christophe Berra (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Gary Caldwell (Wigan Athletic), Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Lee Wallace (Rangers), Steven Whittaker (Rangers), Charlie Adam (Liverpool), Don Cowie (Cardiff City), Graham Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), James McArthur (Wigan Athletic), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), Barry Robson (Middlesbrough), Robert Snodgrass (Leeds United), David Goodwillie (Blackburn Rovers), Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton and Hove Albion), Jamie Mackie (Queens Park Rangers), Kenny Miller (Cardiff City), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield Town)

Wayne Rooney Is Only British Player On Ballon d'Or World Footballer Of The Year Shortlist.

Barcelona have eight players on the list, including Lionel Messi, who has won the award for the past two seasons and the nani (Man Utd), Luis Suarez (Liverpool) and Sergio Aguero (Man City) are the other England-based players named.

BRITISH BALLON D'OR WINNERS for a 1956: Stanley Matthews, 1964: Denis Law, 1966: Bobby Charlton, 1968: George Best, 1978/79: Kevin Keegan and the 2001: Michael Owen.

Arsenal's Arsene Wenger joins Sir Alex Ferguson and Chelsea's Andre Villas-Boas on the managerial list for a decision will be made on 9 January and the rooney helped Manchester United lift a record 19th league title in 2011 and reach the final of the European Cup and the european champions Barcelona dominate Fifa's list, Cesc Fabregas, who spent part of 2011 with Arsenal, named alongside Messi.

Real Madrid have 5 nominees, including former Manchester United player Cristiano Ronaldo and ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso and the shortlist will be narrowed down to three names for each category on 5 December.

Player nominees:

Eric Abidal (France), Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Karim Benzema (France), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Dani Alves (Brazil), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Nani (Portugal), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Gerard Pique (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), David Villa (Spain), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Xavi (Spain).

Coach nominees:

Vicente Del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team), Sir Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United), Rudi Garcia (France/Lille), Pep Guardiola (Spain/Barcelona), Jurgen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund), Joachim Loew (Germany/Germany national team), Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid), Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay/Uruguay national team), Andre Villas-Boas (Portugal/Porto, Chelsea), Arsene Wenger (France/Arsenal).