Hoeness gives backing to Lehmann as German No.1
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Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has received backing from an unlikely source, with Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness singing his praises at the weekend.
It was Hoeness who bitterly fought with the German Football Association (DFB) to get Oliver Kahn picked as Germany's number one for the last World Cup - a battle he eventually lost as Lehmann got the nod from Jurgen Klinsmann.
However, now Kahn is off the scene, Hoeness seems to be throwing his weight behind Lehmann in the race for the number one jersey at next year's European Championships.
'Lehmann has got to play at Euro 2008, even if he does not play one more game for Arsenal until then,' Hoeness told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
'It is unfair and inappropriate to doubt Lehmann - he is an excellent goalkeeper.'
Hoeness' backing is surprising since he has a player in his Bayern Munich squad who he is pushing to become the new Germany number one.
Michael Rensing, 23, has already been designated the successor of Kahn at club level and is currently playing while the elder statesman recovers from an elbow injury.
While Rensing is getting regular match practice, Lehmann was not even on the Arsenal bench for Saturday's 2-0 win over Bolton.
But the 37-year-old insisted: 'It is only up from here and I will force my way through.' -
*Lehmann issues threat to Wenger*
Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann has warned he may publicly air his grievances with Arsene Wenger if he does not play soon.
Lehmann's errors and injuries at the start of the season gave Manuel Almunia his chance and he is now first-choice ahead of the fit-again German stopper.
The 37-year-old told German TV channel Premiere: "I think - and this is aimed at my dear manager - one shouldn't humiliate players for too long.
"It's possible that some day I'll feel like talking about the whole issue."
Lehmann's comments came after he was left out of the Arsenal squad against Bolton last Saturday - a game he expected to play in after impressing for Germany earlier this month.
But Wenger, who dropped Lehmann after he gifted Blackburn an equaliser in the 1-1 draw on 19 August, stuck with Almunia and put young keeper Lukasz Fabianski on the bench.
Almunia was once again in goal for Wednesday's 7-0 win over Slavia Prague, although Lehmann did return to the bench.
"At the moment I'm just swallowing it all as part of the humiliation. That's something one has to take in, " Lehmann said.
"But I'm an Arsenal player and I won't just fade away quietly."
Wenger was asked about Lehmann's outburst following his side's demolition of Slavia.
"I don't want to humiliate anybody," said the Gunners boss. "We have three world-class goalkeepers and we can only play one."
But Lehmann is bemused by Wenger's assertion that he has three "world-class" goalkeepers to pick from.
"One of them must be me," he suggested. "The other two have proved their class by winning titles? If I think about that, I can't recall any. I guess today you're nevertheless world-class."
Lehmann won the Uefa Cup in 1997 with Schalke 04, the Bundesliga title in 2002 with Borussia Dortmund and the Premier League with Arsenal in 2004.
And he made it clear he feels he should still be the number one at the Emirates Stadium.
"I'm convinced that I'll be playing again. Almunia has not yet showed that he can win matches for us," Lehmann added.
"I've experienced this situation before and know what the others are expecting from the goalkeeper. I can't imagine he'll be able to handle that."
Lehmann got too much things to whine liao lah... -
if u concede goals. means ur hands are not safe.
if u do not concede goals. means ur hands are safe.
thats a bottomline. So whenever i play as a GK. i concede a goal, its a -1 even if my team wins the match. If almunia keeps his clean sheet records, i see no reason why arsene will drop him for lehmann. -
I do not agree to your saying. if you concede goals BUT it's not your fault but some defensive errors, it still mean your hands are safeOriginally posted by corebooster:if u concede goals. means ur hands are not safe.
if u do not concede goals. means ur hands are safe.
thats a bottomline. So whenever i play as a GK. i concede a goal, its a -1 even if my team wins the match. If almunia keeps his clean sheet records, i see no reason why arsene will drop him for lehmann. -
if defensive error and u mmust try to rectify the problem mah. Just that not all the blame will be put onto the GK.Originally posted by glacer:I do not agree to your saying. if you concede goals BUT it's not your fault but some defensive errors, it still mean your hands are safe -
Alumnia made some good saves today.