Bayern Munich need a football philosophy: Lahm

Munich, Nov 7 : Bayern Munich are lagging behind the European football giants because they don't have a football philosophy, their Germany defender Philipp Lahm has said.

The wing back Lahm, 25, told Saturday's edition of the Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) daily that the Bundesliga club must decide on a tactical scheme and then hire the players who fit this system.

"If you want to measure yourself with Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United you as Bayern need a philosophy. That must be the aim of the club," Lahm told the SZ.

"Clubs like Manchester United or Barcelona have a system, and then you hire personnel that fits this system.

"We hired Arjen Robben because he is very good and an international player. But we didn't hire him because we said: we will play 4-3-3 from now on. This doesn't happen here, that the club says we will do this (system) now and everything is built on that."

Coming off a midweek 2-0 home defeat against French club Girondins Bordeaux, Munich are in danger of going out in the group stage of the European Champions League they last won in 2001.

The team of Dutch coach Louis van Gaal is also not dominating the Bundesliga, ranked sixth with 19 points ahead of a match against Schalke 04 set for later Saturday.

The summer arrival van Gaal has come under fire, but Lahm said that he was the right coach because he has clear tactical ideas, unlike Juergen Klinsmann last year.

Lahm also said that new sports director Christian Nerlinger has the backing of the team and is capable of providing the philosophy required to do well on the international stage.

"On an international level you need at least eight players who have learnt to play their position, who are confident and competitive. I don't see these eight players here. That has nothing to do with the players but with a lacking philosophy over the past years," Lahm said.

Munich have played 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 systems in the past and this season. Robben and (currently injured) Frenchmen Franck Ribery are best suited for 4-3-3, but Munich have an abundance of strikers like Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni, of whom only one would play in such a scheme.

"The club must tell a new coach: this is the way we play. No one in Barcelona would ever play 4-4-2. Barcelona is 4-3-3, that is a fact!"

Lahm's statements are to a certain degree an attack on Munich's current leadership of Franz Beckenbauer (president), Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (chairman) and Uli Hoeness (general manager). Changes are to come later this month when Beckenbauer steps down, Hoeness is to inherit the presidency and Nerlinger to get more influence.

"I was raised at the club and Munich are dear to me, that's why I am outspoken. I think I am in a position to make these statements. We want to be successful on an international stage and to win titles," said the Munich-born Lahm who has been at the club since 1995.

--IANS