Kovac quits Bayern as Munich slip
NIKO KOVAC last night quit as Bayern Munich boss – a little over a month after the German giants thrashed Spurs 7-2 in the Champions League.
The Croat was under mounting pressure and fell on his sword after Saturday’s 5-1 thrashing at Eintracht Frankfurt left the champions in fourth spot.
He said: “This is the right decision for the club. The results, and also the way we played lately, made me come to that decision.
“My brother Robert and I would like to thank Bayern for these past 18 months.”
Hansi Flick has taken charge for games against Olympiacos and Borussia Dortmund with Jose Mourinho installed as the favourite to replace him.
In Italy, Verona boss Ivan Juric denied there was any racist abuse directed towards Brescia striker Mario Balotelli, who threatened to walk off during the second half of his side’s 2-1 Serie A defeat.
Television pictures showed the forward pick up the ball and kick it into the stands before making to leave the pitch in 54 minutes.
Footage later appeared on social media suggesting Balotelli was reacting to racist abuse, with monkey chants clearly audible.
Balotelli was convinced to stay by team-mates, Verona players and officials before ref Maurizio Mariani initiated the anti-racism protocol, the game temporarily suspended while a warning was read out over the tannoy.
When action resumed, Verona went on to take a 2-0 lead before Balotelli curled in a 20-yard effort.
But Juric, though, insisted there was no racist element and said: “Today there was nothing. Lots of whistling and teasing against a great player, but there was nothing else. I have also taken so many insults over the years, I know what it means, but today there has been nothing.”
It was the second time such a protocol was followed in Serie A this weekend after Roma’s 2-1 win over and Napoli was briefly halted when chants were aimed directed at Napoletano fans.