Ross420
Sep 16 2003, 06:08 AM
(Bayern's website)
http://www.fcbayern.t-online.de/imperia/md/images/relaunch/spieler/kahn/154/5.jpg
"The Lord be praised: the Champions League is back." With 48 hours remaining before Bayern's opener against Celtic, club captain Oliver Kahn is fired up and raring to go in this season's tournament, determined to atone for the Munich giants' failure at the first group stage last term. "What happened in the past doesn't count any more. We're going to do better than last season this time around," he promised.
However, the 34 year-old has set his sights higher than simply surviving the group stage. "It only really becomes interesting after that," he smiled, welcoming the new system which sees the second group phase replaced by a classic knock-out format. "The new format is much better. I think they've found a good balance between intense competition and recovery time," he observed.
And Kahn is confident enough to predict his side could go all the way: "We have a squad capable of winning the Champions League," he insisted, although "it's not just about who's in your squad but who's out injured. Which team looks best at the end of the season-long marathon? Who has the best substitutes' bench? Which side gets the breaks at the right moment? You can certainly set winning the Champions League as a target, but you can't ever count on it."
If the team wished to repeat its 2001 triumph, it would have to "remember how Bayern Munich have always played successful football." Kahn had harsh words for his defensive midfielders following Saturday's 3-2 reverse in Wolfsburg: "We've been tactically ill-disciplined in that area, that's our problem at the moment. We need a totally firm hand, then we'll return to winning ways."
Kahn dismissed talk of a defensive crisis despite three goals conceded in Wolfsburg. "Our defence consists of absolute world-class players. It's not a problem with the defence, but with our organisation in defensive midfield. Like I said, we need an organiser, someone who sticks to our tactics. That's the long and short of it."
The club captain expressed dismay at Jens Jeremies' absence through injury: "We ran around like headless chickens in Wolfsburg, we went off our heads. Everyone can see how important Jens Jeremies is for Bayern, he's a model of discipline in this area and consistently capable of imposing order and sticking rigidly to a tactical plan. It's utterly vital we have this kind of player at the moment."
The odds are that Michael Ballack, a key performer in midfield, will return for Wednesday's clash, "but he has a vital role elsewhere," Kahn explained, "Ballack plays in the middle and basically looks to get forward."
But despite the rumbling aftershocks from Saturday, Kahn was still licking his lips at the prospect of taking on the Scottish runners up. "Celtic are a top international club, this is going to be a massive game." And the World Goalkeeper of the Year was relishing the upcoming duel with super striker Henrik Larsson: "It's the icing on the cake. As a player, you measure yourself against the best and you look forward to taking them on. This is the real challenge."
http://www.fcbayern.t-online.de/imperia/md/images/relaunch/spieler/kahn/154/5.jpg
"The Lord be praised: the Champions League is back." With 48 hours remaining before Bayern's opener against Celtic, club captain Oliver Kahn is fired up and raring to go in this season's tournament, determined to atone for the Munich giants' failure at the first group stage last term. "What happened in the past doesn't count any more. We're going to do better than last season this time around," he promised.
However, the 34 year-old has set his sights higher than simply surviving the group stage. "It only really becomes interesting after that," he smiled, welcoming the new system which sees the second group phase replaced by a classic knock-out format. "The new format is much better. I think they've found a good balance between intense competition and recovery time," he observed.
And Kahn is confident enough to predict his side could go all the way: "We have a squad capable of winning the Champions League," he insisted, although "it's not just about who's in your squad but who's out injured. Which team looks best at the end of the season-long marathon? Who has the best substitutes' bench? Which side gets the breaks at the right moment? You can certainly set winning the Champions League as a target, but you can't ever count on it."
If the team wished to repeat its 2001 triumph, it would have to "remember how Bayern Munich have always played successful football." Kahn had harsh words for his defensive midfielders following Saturday's 3-2 reverse in Wolfsburg: "We've been tactically ill-disciplined in that area, that's our problem at the moment. We need a totally firm hand, then we'll return to winning ways."
Kahn dismissed talk of a defensive crisis despite three goals conceded in Wolfsburg. "Our defence consists of absolute world-class players. It's not a problem with the defence, but with our organisation in defensive midfield. Like I said, we need an organiser, someone who sticks to our tactics. That's the long and short of it."
The club captain expressed dismay at Jens Jeremies' absence through injury: "We ran around like headless chickens in Wolfsburg, we went off our heads. Everyone can see how important Jens Jeremies is for Bayern, he's a model of discipline in this area and consistently capable of imposing order and sticking rigidly to a tactical plan. It's utterly vital we have this kind of player at the moment."
The odds are that Michael Ballack, a key performer in midfield, will return for Wednesday's clash, "but he has a vital role elsewhere," Kahn explained, "Ballack plays in the middle and basically looks to get forward."
But despite the rumbling aftershocks from Saturday, Kahn was still licking his lips at the prospect of taking on the Scottish runners up. "Celtic are a top international club, this is going to be a massive game." And the World Goalkeeper of the Year was relishing the upcoming duel with super striker Henrik Larsson: "It's the icing on the cake. As a player, you measure yourself against the best and you look forward to taking them on. This is the real challenge."