[BM News] Ten players unavailable for Prague trip

Nine out through injury - Kahn takes a break
Ten players unavailable for Prague trip


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How about this for a line-up? Oliver Kahn in goal; Willy Sagnol and Bixente Lizarazu at the back; Hasan Salihamidzic, Jens Jeremies, Stefan Effenberg and Niko Kovac in midfield; and Mehmet Scholl, Carsten Jancker and Giovane Elber in the forward line. Add another defender and you have the ideal team to face Sparta Prague in the last match of the initial group stage of the Champions League. The reality is that none of the players above will be travelling to Prague, however.
No fewer that ten men have been ruled out of a match that decides the winners of Group H. In ad***ion to Oliver Kahn, who has been given a one-match break by coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld, nine players are currently nursing injuries or back in training after recovering from injuries. "Oliver has had a lot on his plate with Bayern and the national side in recent weeks," explained Hitzfeld on Monday. "I think it's important that he should have a few days away from football." Kahn will return to training on Thursday.

Kahn has made a total of 20 competitive appearances in the space of three months (11 Bundesliga matches, 5 Champions League, 2 World Cup qualifiers for Germany, 1 DFB Cup and 1 UEFA Super Cup match). "He's the type of player who is totally focused on the job in hand â?" both for club and country," added general manager, Uli HoeneÃY, who was "completely in favour" of Hitzfeld's decision to give Kahn some time off.

Stefan Wessels has been chosen to take Kahn's place in the starting line-up. "He's still a young player and this match will be valuable experience for him," was Hitzfeld's justification for selecting 21-year-old Wessels ahead of 35-year-old Bernd Dreher. "I think everyone accepts that Stefan is more of a player for the future."

The team has virtually picked itself for the encounter with Sparta Prague. "We will have two experienced outfield players on the substitutes' bench along with amateurs Markus Feulner and Stephan Kling," added the Bayern coach. "It's true that we have a lot of strength in depth, but we can't really afford to lose anyone else."

Midfielder Thorsten Fink, speaking on his 34th birthday, remained in ebullient mood ahead of Wednesday evening's game. "We've often had to compensate for players out through injury," he said. "But we've handled it in the past and we'll handle it in the future."

Both Fink and Hitzfeld were quick to underline the team's determination to secure first place in Group H. "Of course we want to be in first place â?" that's our whole philosophy," said Hitzfeld. "We know that a lot of Bayern supporters will be at the game, and they will expect a committed team performance," added Fink. A point against Sparta Prague will be enough to secure victory in the group.

www.fcbayern.com

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