Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann has told the German media not to get too carried away by his personal rivalry with Bayern Munich’s Oliver Kahn.
Kahn and Lehmann meet tonight when Bayern Munich entertain Arsenal in the Champions League. It will be a rare meeting between the two men vying to become the German goalkeeper at next year’s World Cup finals.
However, Lehman does not believe that tonight’s match will have any bearing on German coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s final decision.
“I don’t really believe that (Germany coach, Jurgen) Klinsmann will watch from the stands and say: ‘This is my man now,” declared Lehmann.
“To me this game is not much different from any other Champions League match, but what makes it so interesting for the public is that I am in one goal and Oliver is in the other one.
“But it’s Bayern against Arsenal and 22 top-class players will have their say on what’s going on, on the pitch,” Lehmann told Kicker.
After a shaky spell earlier in the season during which he was dropped to the becnh for Arsenal, Lehmann has now regained the confidence of Gunners coach Arsene Wenger.
“If players are special, they can deal with pressure,” said Wenger. “It can actually help them perform. They find it harder to play without any pressure on them.
“Jens has played for 12 or 13 years in Germany so I do not think he will be judged on one game, no matter how well he plays. But he is a winner and he will be happy if Arsenal win.”
