[Oliver_Kahn]

Werder Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs has hit back at a number of broadsides fired at his side by title rivals Bayern Munich, and announced "the psychological battle and the little verbal attacks have begun."

Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness had labelled Werder "the losers of the weekend," after the North German side could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Energie Cottbus, while defender Daniel Van Buyten also weighed in, insisting "Werder do not belong in first position [in the Bundesliga]."

But Bremen bounced back to winning ways on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory away at Nuernberg, and Allofs immediately retorted. "I don't know if he [Van Buyten] is in a position to be able to judge that. He hasn't been top of the Bundesliga much himself…"

He went on to suggest that Bayern are growing increasingly desperate, and jealous of his side, commenting "everybody is heaping praise on Werder. We have improved our reputation and are image. That's a new situation for Bayern."

"Maybe they have the feeling that they are not doing enough. Their comments are a cry for help."

The Bavarians then suffered an embarrassing 1-0 home defeat to struggling Hannover on Wednesday night, and slipped to fifth in the table, level on points with Hertha Berlin.

Werder have now been installed as favourites to capture their fourth league title success, and midfielder Torsten Frings insists the feat is within their grasp.

"We can win the championship," he stated. "It all depends on us."

http://www.eurosport.com/football/bu...o1004483.shtml