Hoeness slams Lahm comments

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has responded to claims made by Philipp Lahm in an interview last weekend, saying he is "almost wrong with every point".

Lahm criticised his club for not having a clear concept for the future and for making some errant signings. He was handed a "record fine" while he immediately apologised for going public with his views.

But Hoeness, in typical style, ensured he had the last word in the matter, telling Zeit newspaper: "Lahm is almost wrong with every point."

He added: "It's a joke. What do you think would happen if a renowned coach came to you and you tell him that he has to play our system with the players?

"Franz Beckenbauer is the only person to have given the right answer: The system is not decisive because a good football team must be able to play various systems.

"It is the coach who decides the philosophy."

Hoeness criticised Lahm's agent Roman Grill for putting his client up for the interview and creating the controversy.

"I called Grill this morning and asked him why he said in public that Philipp Lahm had been to the board two or three times," explained Hoeness on Thursday.

"He knows full well that that is not the case. And he answered me 'how else should he make a name for himself?'

"That was his answer. Isn't that shameful?"