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Lonely at the top Stopping Bayern is impossible dream for Leverkusen
BERLIN (Reuters) -- Denying Bayern Munich yet another German title will be as easy as growing lettuce in the desert, says Bayer Leverkusen coach Christoph Daum, who will nevertheless again set about trying to do it when the new season kicks off next weekend. "It has to be the rest of the league against Bayern, otherwise we will all be fighting for second place," said Daum, summing up the general feeling around the Bundesliga. Daum has become an expert at almost stopping Bayern from ruling German soccer, his men finishing runners-up to the Bavarians in three of the last four seasons, including last May when they lost their last game of the season to hand the title to Bayern on goal difference. "What we have to do is plant salads in the Sahara," Daum told Die Welt. "We aim at something which is seemingly impossible, but in the end we might end up with a green oasis." The fact that Bayern has not made any spectacular summer signings raised hopes that the team that won the league and cup double last season, might be a little more vulnerable this year. But their 5-1 demolition of Hertha Berlin for their fourth successive triumph in the preseason German League Cup, and solid friendly victories over Galatasaray and Manchester United, showed that they are still a mighty force. Commercial manager Uli Hoeness has said that there is no point in spending a fortune on a Luis Figo or a Hernan Crespo and said the sums spent by some of Bayern's rivals on the European front were "mad." Hitzfield hungry for moreBayern's only imports have been Swiss international Ciriaco Sforza, returning to his old club to marshal the defense, and French wing-back Willy Sagnol, who joined from Monaco. But importantly all their stars stayed, including playmaker Stefan Effenberg and Brazilian marksman Elber, and coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has several talented youngsters in his squad, most notably teenage Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz. "The more you win, the more you want to achieve," said Hitzfeld, eyeing not only a 17th German crown but also success in the Champions League. "We never get tired of winning." Bayern's most dangerous rivals should again be Leverkusen, even after arguably its best player, Brazilian midfielder Emerson, left for AS Roma. Others, like Hamburg SV, back among the frontrunners after years in the wilderness, or Hertha Berlin, eager to establish themselves as a dominant force, can only dream of denting Bayern's supremacy. Borussia Dortmund, which has been going through lean times since winning the Champions League in 1997, also starts with ambitions under the guidance of former German international Matthias Sammer, who graced the team as a libero and now embarks on a coaching career. Minnow Cottbus joins top flightHamburg, Hertha and Dortmund are wealthy clubs by German standards, but their squads don't bear comparison with Bayern's, not to mention those of Europe's most expensive outfits. "We just can't afford to spend the sort of money some leading European clubs have been putting on the table," Daum said. "The simple fact that the Bundesliga remains competitive with the means it has is something of a miracle." Nobody questions Bayern's ability to mix it up with the continent's heavyweights, but it remains to be seen whether other German clubs can do it, too. Cologne and VfL Bochum, back in the first division, have worries of a different nature. The same goes for little Energie Cottbus, which was promoted for the first time, joining Hansa Rostock as the second club from the former East Germany in the top flight. All those teams will be happy if they avoid relegation. It could be Daum's final chance to lead Leverkusen to a first German title as at the end of the season, he will take over from Rudi Voeller as coach of the troubled national team. When he eventually turns his back on the club from a small industrial town outside Cologne, Daum will be out to prove that Germany, facing the worst crisis in its history following a disastrous Euro 2000 campaign, remains a power to be reckoned with. But first he wants to spice up the Bundesliga one last time by doing his best to make sure Bayern does not feel too lonely at the top.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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