Schweinsteiger explains Bayern stay

Bastian Schweinsteiger has explained that the desire to win the Champions League was the reason he re-signed with Bayern Munich.

On Saturday the 26-year-old committed to the Bundesliga giants until 2016, despite interest from several of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Manchester United and Real Madrid.

“We can do it, we can become Champions League winners – I am convinced of this, and that’s why I have signed,” Schweinsteiger, who was part of the Bayern squad that lost last year’s Champions League final to Inter Milan, said.

“I talked with the club’s management about this and this for me was the deciding factor in these discussions.”

Schweinsteiger also urged the club to sign Schalke and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Neuer still has a year remaining on his contract with Schalke, but has previously been a target of Manchester United, and Schweinsteiger believes he would be a valuable addition to the Bayern squad.

“We now have the opportunity with Manuel Neuer to bring the best German goalkeeper to Munich and I’m always of the opinion that the best German players should play at Bayern Munich,” he said.

Bayern returned to the winners’ list with a 3-0 win over St Pauli in the Bundesliga last weekend and face Stuttgart away from home on Monday.