Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has said that he is in no great rush to open contract talks with the Bundesliga club.
"There is no hurry, I am relaxed"
- Bastian Schweinsteiger
Schweinsteiger, 30, this week rubbished talks of retirement - but with his contract at Bayern running until 2016, insisted he was relaxed about future prospects, even if they may come away from the club where he has played 328 Bundesliga games: "I can play at this level for another three, four years," Schweinsteiger said. "There is no hurry. I am very relaxed. I focus on football, and I am not pressed for time. The contract still runs for another one-and-a-half years."
Speaking to kicker magazine, Schweinsteiger went on to discuss the idea of moving away from the Bundesliga in the futurel, insisting that his focus is squarely on performing for Pep Guardiola's side: "I have said that you should never say never, but at the moment I am focused on the football here at Bayern."
After a successful summer in which he lifted the World Cup with Germany in Brazil, Schweinsteiger's knee problems kept him out of major parts of Bayern Munich's campaign. Returning in November, the Germany captain made eight appearances in all competitions - starting just three times.
Schweinsteiger remains optimistic, however, suggesting that the worse of his injury problems are behind him: "I'm delighted I've put the business with the knee and before that the ankle behind me," he said to the press on Monday, also referring to his ankle surgery in November 2013.
"I think it was a good comeback. I'm really pleased I got to play again before the mid-season break. I am feeling good and really looking forward to the rest of the season."