Rummenigge defends Klinsmann from Bayern fans´ jeers

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has leapt to the defence of coach Jurgen Klinsmann after he received discontented whistles during the club’s annual general meeting.

“We are convinced Jurgen is the right coach for Bayern,” Rummenigge told the club’s AGM in Munich on Friday night after Klinsmann received whistles before Sunday’s Bundesliga clash with Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen.

“He is a very modern and innovative coach, and we are convinced of the fact that we will celebrate plenty of successes with him.”

Although Bayern were fourth before Sunday’s game, some Bayern fans remain unconvinced Klinsmann is the right man after Munich’s poor start to the league which saw them 11th last month after defeat’s to Werder Bremen and Hanover.

“We are already seeing improvement and his philosophy works,” insisted Rummenigge. “We can be confident of the future.”

Bayern captain Mark van Bommel said the German giants feel the pressure at the Munich club where failure is not an option.

“It is a requirement at Bayern that we win titles, third place is not the goal,” said the Dutch hard-man.

Meanwhile, Bayern will be without injured pair Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski against Schalke as both are struggling with knocks received in last Wednesday’s Champions League 1-1 draw at Fiorentina.

“Lukas has back problems which makes his involvement not possible and Bastian continues to suffer from the bruised leg he picked up against Fiorentina,” said Klinsmann on the Bayern website.

But Italian World Cup winner Luca Toni is back in the team and the striker will play from the start.

Klinsmann said Germany defender Philipp Lahm is back in training after picking up an ankle injury a fortnight ago, but will not feature against Schalke.

Meanwhile, Bayern’s Argentine internationals Martin Demichelis and Jose Ernesto Sosa admit they were impressed new national coach Diego Maradona flew to see them.

The pair met Maradona in a Munich hotel for nearly an hour on Thursday as part of his tour of European-based players to discuss tactics in the run up to the 2010 World Cup.

Both players have both been called up for Maradona’s first match in charge, the meeting with Scotland on November 19 at Hampden Park, Glasgow.

“He wanted to establish a personal relationship with us and outline his plans,” said said Demichelis, who admitted Maradona was a child-hood hero.

“I’ve previously met Maradona, but that’s the first time I’ve spoken to him for any length of time. That was a gift from football, and a moment I’ll never forget.

“His presence is enough to motivate you to new heights. You can’t ask for more than having the greatest idol and the last World Cup winning coach come to Munich just to see Jose and me.

“Around 80 Argentine players are performing at the highest level with European clubs. We could put out three or four strong teams. Making it into the national side is incredibly difficult.”

The fact that Maradona came to Munich solely to see Demichelis and Sosa was a sign of the duo’s importance, according to Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

“He’s doing what I did four years ago,” said ex-Germany boss Klinsmann, who also sought early contact with his best players after taking the national hot seat in 2004.