IT sounded like Fredi Bobic was gloating when he sent his Borussia Dortmund team-mates a message via his personal website last weekend.

As well as congratulating his club for clinching the Bundesliga title, he sent a photograph of himself wearing a dinner suit for Friday night's Player of the Year awards. He mischievously pointed out how Sam Allardyce had allowed his players to socialise into the early hours.

But he was quick to make the point: "We do not have a UEFA Cup Final to prepare for!"

Bobic, who might have been involved in Wednesday's final in Rotterdam had he not chosen to join the Wanderers' survival battle, was disappointed to see Dortmund lose 3-2 to Feyenoord.