Stuttgart Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann Praises Arsenal Guardian M
-
The image of an incensed German cutting a forlorn figure on the Arsenal bench, watching on in anger as an uncapped Spaniard - a goalkeeper he never publicly rated at the time - took his place guarding goal for the Gunners, will forever go down as one of the many events that have come to typify Premier League drama.
However, in a surprising twist, Jens Lehmann, currently of Bundesliga side Stuttgart, has actually praised his former understudy at the Ashburton Grove outfit, Manuel Almunia, declaring the distinctively bleach-haired glovesman as having an admirable season in between the sticks.
Lehmann told the press today, "Manuel Almunia has been fantastic this season; he's played probably the best of his career. He is totally mature and maybe has a little less pressure because I am no longer there. I have already said that he is now among the best in his field.
"We had a competitive rivalry, of course, with everything very psychological, but I think we have both always respected each other.
"It would be presumptuous to say that while I was there I was stuck behind a bad goalkeeper on the bench. He was already a very good goalkeeper. This I must admit to you.”
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
mad jens