LONDON: Jens Lehmann has taken a swipe at Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger after helping Germany to the Euro 2008 final.
Lehmann was dumped by Wenger last season in favour of Manuel Almunia and effectively told he had no future at the Emirates.
But the veteran goalkeeper – who plans to join Stuttgart next season – reckons he has provided the perfect answer by taking Germany to the brink of success in the European Championships.
Lehmann, 38, said: “It’s a great end to a tough year and it would mean a lot to win it because in the end my difficult season was down to my club manager.
“We have had some discussion about that and I always told him what I was thinking about his decision. But I’m quite proud to represent Arsenal in Sunday’s final.”
Lehmann spent five seasons at Arsenal after signing from Borussia Dortmund in 2003 and was named UEFA club goalkeeper of the year in 2006.
But he was ruthlessly axed by Wenger last season and Arsenal refused to give him a long-term contract.
Almunia, 31, was promoted but now Lehmann hopes to complete a fairytale response.
“In my career I was very fortunate because every team I played for made it to a European Cup final. So I hope to win this time.”
While Lehmann dreams of switching from Arsenal to Stuttgart, another Germany star is being urged to move in the opposite direction.
Striker Mario Gomez, rated at £12mil, has been handed the advice by the legendary Lothar Matthaus.
Matthaus said: “It would be great for Gomez to work with a manager like Arsene Wenger – especially if Arsenal lose goal-getter Emmanuel Adebayor to Inter or AC Milan. – The Sun, London
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