Barca rout raises heat on Bayern manager Klinsmann
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Reuters
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Nisan 10, 2009 00:00
BERLIN - Bayern Munich's 4-0 Champions League mauling by Barcelona on Wednesday has piled the pressure on coach Jürgen Klinsmann, increasing speculation his fate may soon be sealed.
Klinsmann has failed to impress in his first season at the German champions, his side crashing out of the German Cup and lying fourth in the Bundesliga, three points off the top with eight matches left.
The capitulation against a dazzling Barcelona team on Wednesday rubbed further salt in the wounds of Bayern fans who have been unhappy with Klinsmann's style of play.
Consistency and last year's rock-solid defense have been sorely missing this season despite Klinsmann's pre-season pledge to "make every player better."
Bayern was hammered 5-1 by league leader Wolfsburg last week before its flop against Barcelona.Â
However, Club chiefs Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness had some sharp words to say about the team's results but insisted there would be no heat-of-the-moment decisions over Klinsmann.
"One should not take any decisions today," Rummenigge told reporters. "It was a disgrace but it is best if you sleep and then deal with these issues rationally."
While Rummenigge, the club's general director, has backed Klinsmann throughout the season but club president Franz Beckenbauer has been less supportive.
"This is a catastrophe," Beckenbauer told Premiere Television after the 4-0 defeat against Barcelona. "This is schoolboy stuff. The first half was the worst I have ever seen Bayern play."
Chelsea favorite
Meanwhile, Chelsea may be the overwhelming favorite to reach the Champions League semifinals after its stunning 3-1 win at Liverpool on Wednesday, but no one from either side is conceding the tie is over yet.
Chelsea recovered after a Fernando Torres goal had put Liverpool ahead in the sixth minute, stunning the five-times European champions with two headers from Branislav Ivanovic and a hammer-blow third from Didier Drogba.
The result even amazed Chelsea's temporary coach Guus Hiddink, who won the tactical battle with Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez, a master tactician himself, especially in Europe.
"It was very surprising to have scored three, we didn't expect it. But remember it is only halftime, Liverpool have pulled off some remarkable comebacks in the past," said Hiddink, who pulled off a masterstroke of his own by designating Essien to patrol Steven Gerrard.
"It is going to be tough, and we have to go there and score three but we can do that," Benitez said afterwards. "The tie is not over yet."
The capitulation against a dazzling Barcelona team on Wednesday rubbed further salt in the wounds of Bayern fans who have been unhappy with Klinsmann's style of play.
Consistency and last year's rock-solid defense have been sorely missing this season despite Klinsmann's pre-season pledge to "make every player better."
Bayern was hammered 5-1 by league leader Wolfsburg last week before its flop against Barcelona.Â
However, Club chiefs Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness had some sharp words to say about the team's results but insisted there would be no heat-of-the-moment decisions over Klinsmann.
"One should not take any decisions today," Rummenigge told reporters. "It was a disgrace but it is best if you sleep and then deal with these issues rationally."
While Rummenigge, the club's general director, has backed Klinsmann throughout the season but club president Franz Beckenbauer has been less supportive.
"This is a catastrophe," Beckenbauer told Premiere Television after the 4-0 defeat against Barcelona. "This is schoolboy stuff. The first half was the worst I have ever seen Bayern play."
Chelsea favorite
Meanwhile, Chelsea may be the overwhelming favorite to reach the Champions League semifinals after its stunning 3-1 win at Liverpool on Wednesday, but no one from either side is conceding the tie is over yet.
Chelsea recovered after a Fernando Torres goal had put Liverpool ahead in the sixth minute, stunning the five-times European champions with two headers from Branislav Ivanovic and a hammer-blow third from Didier Drogba.
The result even amazed Chelsea's temporary coach Guus Hiddink, who won the tactical battle with Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez, a master tactician himself, especially in Europe.
"It was very surprising to have scored three, we didn't expect it. But remember it is only halftime, Liverpool have pulled off some remarkable comebacks in the past," said Hiddink, who pulled off a masterstroke of his own by designating Essien to patrol Steven Gerrard.
"It is going to be tough, and we have to go there and score three but we can do that," Benitez said afterwards. "The tie is not over yet."