Juergen Klinsmann, feeling the heat early in his first season as Bayern Munich coach. September 30th, 2008
Juergen Klinsmann, feeling the heat early in his first season as Bayern Munich coach. After the club’s worst domestic start in 31 years, will be hoping for a return to form against Lyon in the Champions League.
After two straight losses, one a 5-2 thrashing at home by Werder Bremen, the German champions are in ninth place in Germany’s top division.
Seeking to rest key players ahead of Tuesday’s game against Lyon, Klinsmann dropped several starters for the match at Hannover on Saturday, but the move backfired when Bayern lost 1-0.
Ze Roberto, Lucio and Bastian Schweinsteiger were among the usual starters who were left out and Bayern produced a pale, uninspired performance.
“We showed no creativity, no ideas, nothing unexpected,” Klinsmann said.
Klinsmann called his players for what appears to have been a stormy meeting after the game in Hannover, but he declined to give details.
“It’s normal that after a game like that clear and perhaps also loud words are used,” Klinsmann said.
There is little tolerance for failure at Bayern, but club president Franz Beckenbauer stopped short of criticizing Klinsmann’s rotation.
“I don’t think such criticism would be justified,” Beckenbauer said.
Even Franck Ribery, making his second appearance since recovering from an ankle injury, could not turn things around for Bayern when he came on at the start of the second half.
“If we play like that against Lyon, we’ve got no chance,” Ribery said.
Lyon will not be intimidated, having lost only one of four previous Champions League games against Bayern.
Bayern won its opening game at Steaua Bucharest 1-0, but general manager Uli Hoeness said the team had to be successful both in domestic and international competitions.
“We don’t want to see two faces of Bayern,” Hoeness said.
If Ribery plays, it will be his first Champions League match against French opposition.
“All the eyes (in France) will be on me,” Ribery said. “I feel good, but against Lyon I’d play with a broken leg.”
But Klinsmann refused to commit on giving Ribery his debut from the start.
“Everyone will have to be patient until game time,” he said.
Bayern will have to figure out how to stop Lyon’s striking partnership of Karim Benzema and Fred, with defender Christian Lell out with a thigh injury.
“Our goal is at least one point, but three would be good,” Benzema said.
Lyon drew 2-2 with Fiorentina in its Champions League opener.