Oliver Kahn - Retired, legendary Bayern goalkeeper

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Veteran Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn will not accept rotating with impressive youngster Michael Rensing.

The outspoken former Germany number one, 37, did praise the 22-year-old but insisted he was still the top keeper at Bayern.

"Michael is obviously a great talent," Kahn told Arena. "His time will come... But I've got a contract until 2008 and as long as I'm able to deliver above-average performances consistently, I don't think there's room for discussion just because a few younger keepers are doing well at other clubs."

The other younger keepers he was referring to are Manuel Neuer at Schalke and Rene Adler at Leverkusen, who this season ousted Hans Rost and Hans-Joerg Butt respectively.

He has played in 12 Bundesliga matches and two Champions League matches.

Kahn recently hinted he might stay beyond 2008, prompting Rensing to say he would want to leave in search of a starting spot if Kahn stayed.

Kahn refuses to be rotated - Football - Eurosport

[jec1]

I sense alittl bit of cockiness in Kahn's part. Didin't he say, if he started the WC Germany had a Good chance of winning.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Yeah he did. Kahn is THE Legend

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Saturday's defeat in Stuttgart leaves Bayern's chances of competing in next season's Champions League hanging by a thread, as the Reds are five points off the Swabians in third and seven behind Bremen in second with just four games remaining. "What took the field today wasn't a team," captain Oliver Kahn bluntly told reporters after the match.

Question: Oliver Kahn, how disappointed are you at losing to VfB Stuttgart?

Oliver Kahn: "If we'd played brilliantly and lost because VfB were even better, I wouldn't say anything. That's normality in football. But after a display like that? I have to admit I just don't understand it. We have to accept it wasn't good enough to qualify for the Champions League."

Question: What do you think of the way your team played?

Oliver Kahn: "It was fatal, especially in the first half. I can't recall a performance as bad as that in such an important match with so much at stake. After going a goal down, we made the same mistake we made against Milan. We let our heads go down and immediately conceded a second. The game was over at that point. Obviously, that wasn't the real Bayern Munich football club. There's nothing, and I mean nothing, we can regard as a positive from today's match."

Question: Bayern's strengths over the years have included approaching crunch games like this in peak form, and the ability to overturn a deficit. Why didn't it happen today?

Oliver Kahn: "I don't know, I can't say. I simply can't explain the first half. We bottled almost all the tackles, and VfB had four gilt-edged chances in the space of 20 minutes. In the circumstances, it was going to be tough taking even a point from the game."

Question: Was there too much pressure?

Oliver Kahn: "Too much pressure? That's normal at Bayern Munich. You've got to be able to cope with pressure if you play for this club. Maybe it was negative pressure for some of us. Maybe it's different when you're competing for first place compared to third place. Maybe one or two of us are having trouble coping. I just don't know."

Question: What can you do about it as captain?

Oliver Kahn: "I can try and get involved, and that's what I've done, but it's tough getting through to the players right now. Everyone's exclusively concerned with himself. What took the field today wasn't a team."

Question: How much prestige have you lost today?

Oliver Kahn: "We've not lost anything yet. What's happened is that we're in danger of missing out on a Champions League place."

Question: What do you think of the possibility of playing your last season in the UEFA Cup?

Oliver Kahn: "I'm a professional, and Bayern Munich has hired me as their goalkeeper until 30 June 2008. I've played for the club for 13 years, and it will be 14 next year. I'm no cherry picker, I'm not the sort who only plays for a club when things are going well. I'll do what needs to be done, but in the event we don't qualify [for the Champions League], I won't quit, that's total rubbish. We've won so many trophies in the past, it's not going so well right now, but I'm not about to run away, that's not the man I am."

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Former Germany boss Berti Vogts believes that Oliver Kahn should no longer be Bayern Munich's first choice goalkeeper.

The Bavarian giants have endured a frustrating season this term and given that the club are unlikely to qualify for next season's UEFA Champion's League, the ex-Scotland manager feels that radical changes must take place at the Allianz-Arena.

"If Ottmar Hitzfeld wants a fresh start, this must include anyone and he shouldn't shy away from touching the key figures unless he wants to risk his credibility," Vogts told Bild.

"I would send Oliver to the bench and give understudy Michael Rensing a chance to prove himself in the next game."

The 60-year-old has never been a big fan of Kahn, who was only second choice to Andreas Kopke when Vogts inspired Germany to success in Euro 96, and his comments could spark a debate about Kahn's future.

"Bayern need a blow of fresh air and Hitzfeld must find out if Rensing is good enough for the club," insisted Vogts, who was recently appointed as Nigeria coach.

Kahn, 37, has one year left on his contract with Bayern, but his status has suffered significantly since a number of private scandals appear to have affected his form and it was no surprise when he lost Germany's number one shirt to long-term rival Jens Lehmann prior to last year's World Cup.

Kahn has since retired from international football but has recently stressed that he is determined to fulfil his contract with Bayern until 2008.

Sky Sports - The Best Sport Coverage From Around The World

[jec1]

I would send Oliver to the bench and give understudy Michael Rensing a chance to prove himself in the next game

Ouch, I think Kahn is Getting to egotistical. I mean start your young keeper it will benefit him in the long run.

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I should agree with Vogts there, he's speaking the truth.
But, I'll keep Kahn in goal, it's his last year, so let him finish it.

[Oliver_Kahn]

The 60-year-old has never been a big fan of Kahn

Without being said, I think it's pretyt obvious that Vogts has absolutely now credibility to talk about King Kahn

[Oliver_Kahn]

Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld announced "a major rebuilding programme" following Bayern's defeat to VfB Stuttgart last weekend, with "six, seven or even eight new players, so half a team. It will be a major shake-up," the General declared.

The process of renewal will be carried out regardless of whether Bayern manage a place in the Champions League, or as seems more likely, compete in the Uefa Cup next term. And also regardless of which European competition the Reds enter, Oliver Kahn will be part of the new start in Munich even as he completes what will probably be his last season as a player.

Captain staying on board

"I'm not the kind to cherry-pick, and only give my all for the club when things are going well," Kahn remarked after the final whistle in Stuttgart, categorically ruling out an early termination to his contract - the keeper's current deal runs until June 2008 - in the event Bayern fail to qualify for Europe's elite competition. "I'm not suddenly going to jump overboard. That's total rubbish, and it's not my style."

Addressing a news conference on Friday, Kahn described Saturday's meeting with Hamburg as "probably our very last chance of finishing the season in third place," but also underscored his intention to throw his full weight behind the planned new start. "My job next season will once again be to use my position as captain and leader to drive the rebuilding forward, and restore success to the club."

No guarantee of success

Kahn cited his "excellent channels of communication" to club officials and "detailed knowledge of my job." A process of change was "nothing unusual at Bayern. You always see fluctuations. Players come and players go."

"The team will definitely look a lot different next season, but even that's no guarantee we'll immediately return to the glory trail," the skipper warned. The exact nature of the new-look side "is exclusively for the board to decide," he continued, "I have nothing to do with that side of things."

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Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has opted to select Michael Rensing against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday, but was quick to stress that Oliver Kahn is still the club's number one.

A recent run of poor results has seen Bayern slip out of the title race and they also hold little hope of claiming a UEFA Champions League berth.

With thoughts turning to next season, Hitzfeld has opted to shuffle his goalkeeping options.

However, he claims Rensing is aware Kahn is still the number one at the Allianz Arena.

"I don't want to start any internal battle," Hitzfeld told the German press.

"Kahn is my first choice for next season. He will remain our number one and Michael Rensing is aware of that."

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[Oliver_Kahn]

"Kahn is my first choice for next season. He will remain our number one and Michael Rensing is aware of that."

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Daniele Maccarrone casts an eye on what has been left of a 'Titan' called Oliver Kahn.

To say that it’s not been a good season for Bayern Munich would be the understatement of the season.

Out of the fight for the title, out of European competitions, out of the run for a place in the Champions’ League next season, they were taught during the 1-1 draw on Saturday, by an already relegated Moenchengladbach, what pride meant.

The lack of pride, however, is only one of several fallacies that have plagued the Bavarians' season.

When you win, it is great to have praise for everyone, but when you lose, it is most uncalled for to accuse your team-mates of not showing enough, exonerating yourself, particularly as the skipper. That’s what we see now from one Oliver Kahn.

The former German national captain accuses his mates of playing below their standards, as if he himself is free from blame. Perhaps the team has been below par, but could it be possible that his decline has had something to do with it?

It’s time to make a true and more credible analysis.

As a matter of fact, Bayern’s defence this year was completely unprepared to face both the domestic and European competitions. Both Lucio and Sagnol were inconsistent; Philip Lahm was never close to the player we saw in the World Cup; Van Buyten was more devoted to score than to defend, and Ismael was injured for the most of the season.

When a team has such problems in the rear, even more of the hopes lie the keeper, and Kahn was very seldom reliable this season. Errors have plagued his goalkeeping; he rarely jumps, and is most definitely down on agility.

His athletic condition cannot even be compared with that of other internationals such as Buffon, Casillas or Cech. Even the oft-criticised Edwin van der Sar (ask Juventus fans), or other old colleagues like Angelo Peruzzi and Fabien Barthez offer more guarantees between the posts.

Let alone guarantees, he has hardly worked proactively on keeping his defence organized, going more often for the glare and bark after the goals have been conceded. In Germany he is known as 'the man who always wants to win', one who always demands a lot. But you cannot expect from others what you are no longer able to provide!

In the 2002 World Cup, Kahn took Germany almost single-handedly to the final, papering over any deficiencies his defence might have had (you have to wonder how defensive errors would have been analyzed, but for his string of saves). From that moment onwards he was 'Kahn the Titan', and became the first goalkeeper to receive the Golden Ball as best player of the World Cup.

But Titan he no longer is, and it is he who must realize that. His influence on Bayern as a skipper has waned too, and with no Michael Ballack to drive the team on, the lack of leadership has been felt severely.

It’s difficult for a top player to find the right moment to hang his boots (or gloves, in this case), especially if he was considered the very best not so long ago.

What distinguishes a real champion from the commoner, is the ability to cope with defeats with the same class they do with victories, and he must understand that he is being defeated in the race against time. All that remains of the Titan is a normal sized man. It’s better to stop now, before the man turns into a dwarf.

Goal.com - Editorial/Comment - Oliver Kahn: A Titan No More

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