Klinsmann delight as below-par Bayern close gap

Bayern Munich boss Jurgen Klinsmann was delighted the defending Bundesliga champions ground out a 1-0 win over Karlsruhe to narrow the gap on leaders Hertha Berlin to just a point.

“The three points were what mattered,” said Klinsmann despite his side’s average performance as a single first-half strike from Argentina striker Jose Sosa gave Bayern the three points.

With leaders Hertha Berlin losing 2-0 in Stuttgart, both Bayern and third-placed Wolfsburg are now only a point off the top, but Munich’s performance at their Allianz Arena against rock-bottom Karlsruhe was far from impressive.

“We?ve won the way Hertha have won seven or eight times this season, which is OK from time to time,” added Klinsmann.

“Especially in the second half, it didn?t go the way we wanted it to. We were too hurried, Karlsruhe fought back and made chances.

“We failed to wrap it up in the first half. Nevertheless, we?re satisfied enough. It?s good we?re only a point behind Berlin.

“The players are allowed an occasional off day.”

With Bayern facing Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals next month, captain Mark van Bommel was also demanding more from his side.

“There?s nothing much to say. We played badly, but won,” said Bayern’s Dutch skipper who signed a year’s extension to his contract in midweek.

“It was OK to start with and we scored the goal. But otherwise, we?re all aware it wasn?t great. At this stage of the season, these are the games you have to win, and we?ve gone out and won.

“There are three points at stake, we?ve taken them, and that?s all that matters.”

League leaders Hertha Berlin let their four-point lead slip to just a single point as they were beaten 2-0 at VfB Stuttgart.

“It was a very good game,” said delighted Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel.

“The team responded well to the 4-0 defeat by Werder Bremen the week before and rose to the challenge. They corrected a lot of mistakes and I am very happy.”

With both Bayern and third-placed Wolfsburg hard on his side’s heels, Hertha coach Lucien Favre was critical of his side’s performance after losing captain Arne Friedrich with a first-half thigh injury.

“Stuttgart were clearly better,” said the Swiss coach. “We saw two different teams, one played very well, the other one badly.

“If the team doesn’t function properly you will concede goals. We had a bad game and sometimes you have to accept that as a coach.”

Bayern´s Hoeness suggests football levy

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has suggested each household in Germany pay an extra two euros (2.5 US dollars) per month to put German league football back on terrestrial television.

Hoeness has suggested an additional levy to the 17.98 euros (23 US dollars) German TV licence fee to help the professional game here close the yawning gap between its TV revenue compared to those in England, Spain and Italy.

“My biggest hope is that folk will at some point be prepared to pay two euros a month for their football,” Hoeness told German finance magazine Wirtschaftswoche.

“That’s not even half a pack of cigarettes or a small beer in the pub.”

Hoeness believes an additional two euros per month from Germany?s 37 million TV households would generate some 900 million euros (1.166 billion US dollars) in annual revenue.

Bundesliga football is currently broadcast on cable television provider Premiere, with subscribers paying around 25 euros (32 US dollars) per month.

But the idea supported by Hoeness has been met with scepticism here as negative headlines appeared along the lines of “Solidarity surcharge for footballers” and “Compulsory fee for millionaire players”.

But Hoeness insists the minor extra payment could put German football back on terrestrial television here and would mean regular access to top Bundesliga games for all.

“I mean that for an additional two euros per month the man in the street would be able to watch the entire first and second Bundesliga programme ?free?,” said Hoeness.

“A two euro monthly charge would allow public service broadcasters ARD and ZDF to show every game live.

“Everyone, and I repeat, everyone could watch every match live, and/or at a time of their choosing, and/or potentially free on demand.

“More people in Germany are passionate about football than anything else.

“Not everyone wants to watch soap operas, folk music, romantic drama, arts programming, or even politics.

“But everyone still has to pay a 17.98 euro monthly licence fee.”

The 36 clubs in the Bundesliga’s two divisions currently receive a total of around 300 million euros (389 million US), a figure set to rise to 412 million (534 million US) from next season, so under Hoeness’ plan German clubs would receive double their current payment.

“German football would certainly then begin to close the gap to the other major European football markets,” added Hoeness, who steps down as Bayern manager at the end of the season.

Hoeness says while leading clubs around the continent received between 80 (103 million US) and 130 (168 million US) million euros annually from national TV rights, Bayern earn some 50 million (64 million US) from television, 30 million (38.8 million US) of which comes from the Bundesliga.

And with the financial crisis starting to seep down through German society, Hoeness said Bayern may drop their gate prices to help their fans.

“The man in the street is likely to be hit hardest by the global recession,” said Hoeness.

“People who can?t just get away for the weekend, who may no longer have money left over to follow their club and purchase a ticket for the match,” said Hoeness.

“If it becomes really bad and unemployment soars, we?ll review our ticket prices and adjust them to reflect the situation.”

Voronin hat-trick shoots Berlin four points clear

Andrei Voronin’s hat-trick for Hertha Berlin in a 3-1 victory at Energie Cottbus shot them four points clear in the German League while Bayern Munich cruised up to joint second following a five-goal spree.

Bayern Munich’s 5-1 home thrashing of Hanover propelled them three places up the table to tuck in behind Berlin though they have the same number of points as Hoffenheim, VfL Wolfsburg and Hamburg in a tight pack of clubs at the top.

Ukrainian striker Voronin was in scintillating form in the eastern derby to give him 10 league goals for the season and boost Berlin’s title chances.

Turk Cagtas Atan gave Cottbus an early lead before goals in the 34th, 45th and 88th minutes from Voronin sealed the win in front of a record 20,000-strong crowd.

Under-pressure Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann had just the shot in the arm he needed as his side tested the strength of Hanover’s goal netting, blasting five into it.

Bayern, playing without star midfielder Franck Ribery, finally got the victory that staved off a continued crisis of form.

Bayern’s start to 2009 so far has been poor. Since coming back from the winter break at the end of January, they had racked up just one win combined with three defeats and a draw before their Hanover victory.

It was Hanover who went ahead, however. Jiri Stajner shot the visitors into the lead though Bayern were soon back on level terms when Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten headed home six minutes later.

By the break, Munich had scored another two goals through Miroslav Klose and Hatim Altintop before Lukas Podolski hit his fourth goal of the season on 73 minutes before Martin Demichelis finished off the scoring with a minute to go.

Hamburg meanwhile suffered their second successive defeat, losing 4-1 at Borussia Monchengladbach who moved off the bottom of the table with the win.

Hleb keen on Bayern Munich move

3Barcelona star Alexander Hleb has admitted he would be keen on a move to German giants Bayern Munich.

Hleb has failed to impress at Camp Nou after joining the club from Arsenal in a £12million move in the summer.

The former Arsenal ace has been linked with a switch to Bayern Munich.

“I am right in the best years of my career and I do not want to spend those years on bench,” the 27-year-old told Bild.

“Bayern Munich is a special club, their interest in me is a delightful honour.

“If there is a club like Bayern interested, this is really great for everyone. Bayern is among the best teams in the world!”

Ribery wants to leave Bayern

French star Franck Ribery is ready to leave Bayern Munich, according to reports from Germany.

The 25-year-old blasted his teammates following their recent problems in the Bundesliga, according to Bild.

Bayern are give points behind Bundesliga leaders Hertha Berlin.

Bayern President Franz Beckenbauer believes Ribery is keen on a move away from the club at the end of the season.

“Ribery has given me the impression of having said things with a clear intention,” Beckenbauer declared.

“It’s always a problem when a player wants to leave and the club doesn’t want to sell him, putting a gun to his chest.”

Ribery has been linked with several clubs, including Manchester City, Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Klinsmann: Leverkusen played a great game

Holders Bayern Munich were sent crashing out of the DFB Pokal last night in a goal-filled quarter-final with Bayer Leverkusen.

“Obviously, the players are gutted,” Bayern trainer Juergen Klinsmann said after the game. “We desperately wanted to make the semi-finals but it wasn’t to be and that’s a bitter pill we have to swallow.

“It was an open and attractive match from the off. Leverkusen piled on the pressure. They were very aggressive, and they pressed us in every area of the field. They never let us get going. They played well and deserved to win. We failed to move the ball at speed, stretch the play wide and create space for ourselves.

Schalke caught on the Bance in German Cup

Schalke 04’s disappointing season continued on Tuesday as they were knocked out of the German Cup 1-0 by Second Division Mainz in their quarter-final clash.

An 88th minute goal by Burkina Faso’s Aristide Bance was enough to end four-time Cup winners Schalke’s interest in the competition and send Mainz - who are second in their division - into the semi-finals for the first time in their history.

Schalke’s exit heaps the pressure on their Dutch coach Fred Rutten as they are eighth in the league, nine points adrift of leaders Hertha Berlin.

The other three quarter-finals are on Wednesday with the headline encounter between defending champions Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen with the Munich club looking to set aside from some indifferent league form of late.

“We are aware that we have to knuckle down and work hard,” said Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann, whose side have lost two and drawn one of their last three league matches.

“We want to go the whole way in all three competitions that we are involved in,” added Klinsmann, whose side look certain to progress in the Champions League having thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5-0 away last week.

Bayern’s form may be poor but their opponent’s is worse with three defeats, a draw and a win in their last five matches.

Ribery criticises team-mates as transfer rumours mount

France international midfielder Franck Ribery has criticised his Bayern Munich team-mates over on-pitch tactics, the German media reported on Tuesday.

“I complained to the coach (Jurgen Klinsmann) about the fact that I never have enough support when I want to attack on the left side,” Ribery told the tabloid daily Bild. “The coach said I had a point.”

Ribery, who has been repeatedly linked with a big-money move away from the club, was speaking in reference to Bayern’s disappointing 0-0 draw against Werder Bremen on Sunday, which left the reigning champions fifth in the Bundesliga table.

His remarks come at a time when speculation about his future is mounting, with his agent having recently suggested that he could be set for a move to Spanish league leaders Barcelona.

German football legend and former Bayern hero Franz Beckenbauer has expressed his frustration with the situation.

“It’s always a problem when a player wants to leave and holds a gun to his club’s head because he has only a slim chance of leaving,” Beckenbauer told Bild.

“Regarding Ribery, it seems that these statements are targeted,” he added. “Bayern have been dependant on him for a long time.”

During the recent winter break, Ribery caused a storm by revealing that it would be “a dream come true” to play for Barca’s fellow Spanish giants Real Madrid.

He also refused to commit himself to Bayern beyond the end of his current contract in 2011.

“It gets very tiring having to deal with all these questions all the time,” Ribery said last Wednesday.

He has nonetheless made it clear that his future will be decided by Bayern’s performances in the Champions League.

The four-time European champions look very likely to progress to the quarter-finals of this season’s competition, after a Ribery brace inspired them to a 5-0 victory over Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon in the away leg of their last-16 tie.

Hertha stay top as Hamburg humbled

Hertha Berlin finished the weekend as Bundesliga leaders after Hamburg were beaten 3-1 at home by Wolfsburg Sunday as Brazilian striker Grafite signalled his return from injury with two goals.

Hertha’s 2-1 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday proved to be enough as Hamburg never looked comfortable against Wolfsburg and Martin Jol’s men remain in second place.

Hamburg’s bid to regain top spot suffered a setback in the 12th minute when midfielder Dennis Aogo fouled Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko and Grafite slotted home the penalty.

The Brazilian grabbed his second on 24 minutes when Wolfsburg’s attack pulled the Hamburg defence to pieces and the Brazilian again fired home past Hamburg goalkeeper Frank Rost.

Despite missing the last three games with a knee injury, Grafite has now scored nine goals in his last six league games.

Hamburg pulled a goal back through Peru striker Jose Guerrero on 72 minutes, but Wolfsburg pulled 3-1 ahead when Dzeko scored his sixth goal in the last four league games on 76 minutes.

The result leaves Wolfsburg fourth - four points off Hertha - and pushed defending champions Bayern Munich further down the table to fifth after they drew 0-0 at Werder Bremen.

Despite hammering Sporting Lisbon 5-0 away in Portugal in the Champions League in midweek, Bayern could not break the Werder defence.

Both striker Miroslav Klose and midfielder Franck Ribery went close, but neither could get past Bremen goalkeeper Christian Vander who was standing in for the injured Tim Wiese.

Stuttgart moved up to seventh after their 2-0 win over strugglers Karlsruhe after Brazilian midfielder Elson scored in the 50th minute before Sami Khedira added a second with a late strike.

The kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes after rival groups of fans fought outside Karlsruhe’s Wildparkstadion.

On Saturday, Hertha’s Andrey Voronin hit his fourth goal in four games to put Berlin back on top with a 2-1 win over bottom club Borussia Moenchengladbach.

The Ukrainian striker, on loan from Liverpool, hit a first-half goal before Hungary midfielder Pal Dardai put Hertha 2-0 up at half-time.

United States midfielder Michael Bradley converted a penalty for Moenchengladbach on 69 minutes after Hertha’s Germany defender Arne Friedrich brought down international team-mate Marko Marin in the area.

Third-placed Hoffenheim missed out on the chance to claim top spot when they were held 0-0 at Borussia Dortmund.

Both sides were reduced to ten men when Hoffenheim midfielder Tobias Weis retaliated after being brought down by Dortmund’s Sebastian Kehl.

Weis was shown a straight red while Kehl was shown his second yellow.

Relegation candidates Bochum escaped the bottom three after a 3-2 win over fellow strugglers Energie Cottbus who drop into the danger zone.

Struggling Schalke 04 enjoyed a late win over Eintracht Frankfurt which leaves them eighth in the league with Frankfurt now 13th.

Bayer Leverkusen were shocked by a 1-0 defeat at Hanover which leaves them sixth in the table, while Hanover are 12th while on Friday, mid-table Cologne drew 1-1 with strugglers Arminia Bielefeld.

Bayern's Van Buyten furious with Klinsmann

Bayern Munich defender Daniel van Buyten is furious with manager Jürgen Klinsmann, after having been left on the bench for the Champions League game with Sporting Lisbon.

In an interview with newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, the Belgian claims that he had been promised a spot in the team's starting line-up for this game, only to be directed to the bench at the last moment.

"First he tries to make friends by promising me that I will definitely start, but on the day of the match he simply told me that I'd be on the bench. I asked for an explanation, but never got one. I get the feeling that things are over for me here. I try so hard and I still bang against the wall every time," he said.

Van Buyten added that he has the support of influential teammate Franck Ribery, who immediately ran to the Belgian after scoring his first goal against Sporting.

"Franck is just as furious as I am. He really had to calm me down. He doesn't understand why I wasn't allowed to start."

Van Buyten did eventually make an appearance, replacing Lucio at 12 minutes from the end.

Bayern defender doubtful

FC Bayern are sweating over the fitness of Massimo Oddo ahead of Sunday's Bundesliga game at Werder Bremen.

The Italian suffered a bruised ankle in yesterday's 5-0 win at Sporting Lisbon and had to be substituted after 67 minutes.

Lucio able to play

More examinations will follow today when Bayern have returned to Munich.

There were good news regarding Lucio, however: the Brazilian suffered a black eye when he collided with a Sporting player, but he will be available for Sunday's game.