Unwanted criticism

Bayern Munich handed German national defender Philipp Lahm an undisclosed record fine on Sunday for what the club termed "disciplinary violations." German media estimated that Lahm was forced to pay at least 50,000 euros ($75,000) for his "unauthorized" interview with a German newspaper.

The club also handed Italian striker Luca Toni a "severe fine" for leaving the stadium during Saturday's league match against Schalke after being substituted at half-time. Bayern said Toni's departure from the Allianz Arena was an "unacceptable breach of discipline."

However, it was Lahm's aforementioned interview with the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung published on Saturday that really caused a stir in Munich.

Management's fault?

The German national player let off steam, following Bayern's disappointing results both in the Bundesliga and the Champions League over the past two weeks, slamming management's purchasing policy of players as erratic.

"We currently have many players who have no position in the 4-3-3 system favored by our coach. We have really good strikers but in the 4-3-3 system there are always two or three on the bench," Lahm told Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

In view of Bayern's likely premature exit from the Champions League and their current 8th place in the Bundesliga, Lahm urged management to decide on a proper system and then buy the suitable players rather than simply just go after good players no matter whether they fit in or not.

"I think there were some unfortunate transfers in the past. Of course this also had to do with the fact that we had various coaches with different ideas in the last few years," Lahm said, adding "clubs like Manchester or Barcelona stipulate a system and the players are bought accordingly."

Lahm attributed Bayern's mediocre performance this season to a gaping hole in the midfield.

"Defenders need a player in the midfield that they can always pass the ball to… Look at Chelsea: Frank Lampard or Michael Ballack … they fulfill their role with such confidence that they're always accessible. I think our main problem lies in the midfield," Lahm said.

Uncomfortable truths

Lahm's comments hit a raw nerve with the club's management who were quick to lash out at the 25-year-old, saying that he had violated club rules in "a flagrant and unacceptable manner" by failing to submit the interview for approval.

"We are disappointed because as a substitute captain (Lahm) has a special responsibility for the team and club," said general director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. "So Philipp Lahm is fined a record amount never seen before at Bayern."

However, many experts and soccer fans say Lahm is being punished for simply speaking the truth to a management team that is good in dishing out criticism but loath to swallow any itself.

Some experts say management's biggest mistake was to let Brazil's Ze Roberto go to HSV – a move which left the creative gap that Lahm pinpointed in the midfield. A player of the calibre of Ze Roberto or Bremen's Mesut Oezil could have provided the missing link required to make full use of the undisputedly great wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, effectively providing the Bavarians with a solid offensive and creative midfield.

Incorrigible Bayern critics say that Bayern's purchasing and club ethics invariably result in a patchwork star ensemble that lacks cohesion as a team, but the same critics often turn a blind eye to the fact that nonetheless the Bavarian club has played a leading role in German and international soccer for much of the past two decades, clinching the Bundesliga crown 21 times since 1931.

nk/SZ/dpa/AFP

Editor: Jennifer Abramsohn