Kahn's motivational skills much in demand

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1328 votes: 2

10.11.2006

Oliver Kahn was the last Bayern man out of the dressing room after half-time last Wednesday. Practically all ten of his team-mates, already in position for the restart, received a personal exhortation or high-five from the giant keeper as he made his way back to the goal in front of the north stand, where he roused the crowd with a clenched fist salute. For a time, the decibel level at the Allianz Arena soared.

Kahn's role as captain and chief motivator in the dressing room can hardly have been more important over the years than at the present time. "I have a lot more work to do than I did last season or the season before that, when everything took care of itself. It makes my job a lot more challenging and demanding," the 37-year-old told a news conference on the morning after Bayern's shock 1-0 home reverse against Hanover 96, Munich's first home defeat to a club lying bottom of the Bundesliga in 21 years.

Facing the press

Kahn offered the crowd of newsmen gathered at the Säbener Strasse an illuminating glimpse of the kind of questions currently weighing on the players' minds in the dressing room. "As a team, we're asking ourselves why we can't translate our intentions into action. We were fired up and we wanted an emphatic victory." In the event, the champions looked worryingly devoid of inspiration, desire and running.

"The fact is we were not at all good in the first half. We tried a lot harder in the second, but we got nothing for it." The keeper was unable to offer a simple explanation for the dismal display – and in any case, dissecting and analysing the match was a behind-closed-doors matter, he insisted: "There's no point sounding off in front of the media. We have to think positively. We mustn't fall into the trap of listening too hard to the criticism, and increasing the level of negativity around here."

Precarious situation

The midweek results have left Bayern a full six points off leaders Bremen, a state of affairs Kahn frankly acknowledged as fraught with danger. "It's a very precarious and difficult situation for the team, and the team is fully aware of the fact we're in trouble in the Bundesliga," he stated, factually and without a hint of losing his cool.

The skipper continues to believe he and his men can claim the championship crown, as it was far too early to review that ambition with only eleven games played. "We have the quality and the potential to make a decisive push for the title at any point this season." The former Germany international called on his team-mates and everyone at the club to pull closer together: "We have a responsibility to extract ourselves from the position we're in."

Knuckling down

A winning streak would seem the perfect answer in the circumstances. Kahn declared himself delighted with the club's packed schedule. "Thank the Lord we're off to Leverkusen on Saturday, so we can get back on course straight away," he remarked, knowing his qualities as a captain would be needed to the full up to that point: "It's time we knuckled down in the Bundesliga."

MUTU

The attitude is right in the Bayern camp at last. I'm expecting a deserved victory.

tracylynn

I'm glad that he notices that things are different and he needs to take charge because I know he can change things around, at least mentally, with the team.