ACTUALITE |
28.01.2002
Bayern`s title hopes dented after Schalke defeat
BERLIN,
Bayern Munich`s crushing 5-1 defeat by Schalke 04 on Saturday, which extended their current run of matches without a win to seven, has left the defending German champions desperate to find a cure for the slump.
The winless streak is the club`s longest in 32 years and doubts are now mounting over Bayern`s ability to bounce back and retain the Bundesliga title let alone its chances of defending its Champions League crown.
``It hurts to lose an important match like that (against Schalke),`` Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said in an interview with ZDF television late on Saturday after his team fell eight points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
``We needed to stay close to the league leaders. It`s very painful. We`re not going to give up yet. We know what we are capable of.
``A lot of people hope that we collapse but now we have to prove the opposite. We are hunted mercilessly. Everyone wants to beat Bayern Munich. We`ve got to get our act together and show what we can do.``
INSULTING LOSS
Rummenigge described Saturday`s loss to Schalke as ``an insult to the name of Bayern Munich.``
``I have seldom witnessed such an embarrassment,`` he said.
Defending champions Bayern are now fifth in the standings on 34 points, eight behind front runners Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund.
``It would be exaggerated to still talk about winning the title,`` said Bayern vice president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. ``Trailing Leverkusen by eight points, we should focus on at least finishing third.``
Saturday`s loss to Schalke was their worst since 1994 and Bayern have won just 10 times in 19 outings this season with 15 matches still to play.
They also trail Dortmund, Kaiserslautern and Werder Bremen on the league table, and are just two points clear of sixth-placed Hertha and Schalke.
Hitzfeld admitted he was puzzled why his team have struggled so much since the return of captain Stefan Effenberg and other key players who were sidelined by injury for much of the first half of the season.
``It`s difficult to explain,`` he said of the club`s slump in form.
TEAM RALLIED
``When the key players went out with injuries, the rest of the team rallied and showed what we could do despite the injuries.
``Now the injured have returned and it`s difficult to integrate them. It`s thrown us back. Aside from that, the absolute will to win that we had is also somewhat less than it was in the past.``
Bayern`s surprising slide from the top of the table last year towards the middle of the pack has more than dented their aura of invincibility.
They were, however, surprise champions in both 2000 and last year after league leaders Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke respectively stumbled following late-season defeats against lowly opponents.
``Bye-bye Bayern,`` Bild am Sonntag said in a bold headline on Sunday.
``The Bavarians are lying flat on their bellies on the canvas,`` wrote Bild am Sonntag columnist Wilfried Pastors.
``With their embarrassing performance against Schalke, they have pretty much taken themselves out of the running for the championship.``
But Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn believes the team are by no means out of the running for the league title.
``Obviously there`s a lot of frustration on the team,`` he said. ``But we still have 15 games to play. Anything is possible. We`ll get out of this hole.``
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