Bayern boss stays calm as Dortmund go top

05 February 2012 05:46

Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes refused to point the finger of blame at his defence as the Bavarians had to come from behind to draw 1-1 at Hamburg and lost their place at the top of the German league.

Defending champions Borussia Dortmund finish the weekend back on top of the league, but only with a precarious two-point margin, with both Bayern and third-placed Schalke hard on their heels with 41 points each.

After Hamburg's Italian 20-year-old midfielder Jacopo Sala headed Hamburg into the lead on 23 minutes on Saturday, Bayern's blushes were spared when Croatia striker Ivica Olic equalised just minutes after coming off the bench.

Having seen his defence leave Sala unmarked for the opening goal, Bayern's Heynckes refused to point the finger of blame at his team who have taken just four points from a possible nine in their last three league games.

"I don't want to throw accusations at the troops," said Heynckes, whose team play FC Basel in the first-leg of their Round of 16 Champions League clash on February 22.

"Despite everything, we played well in the first half.

"Because the demands of Bayern Munich are somewhat greater, we can't be happy, that is clear.

"We needed to win here and we should have had the urgency to make that happen."

Dortmund deserved to go top after grinding out an impressive 2-0 win at Nuremberg as temperatures reached minus 11 Celsius on Friday night with captain Sebastian Kehl and striker Lucas Barrios providing the goals.

The win looks to have come at a cost as midfieler Sven Bender - who has only recently returned from breaking his jaw at Arsenal last November - damaged ankle ligaments, while Kehl has a foot injury.

"It wasn't easy conditions and that makes the victort so special at Nuremberg," said Klopp, whose side face Holstein Kiel on Tuesday in the German Cup.

"We showed patience, especially as Nuremberg only really threatened from dead-ball situations.

"My thoughts are with Sven Bender, he has had really bad luck."

Source: AFP