Sport

`Kaiser' can concentrate Bayern minds

FRANZ BECKENBAUER, Germany's former World Cup-winning captain and coach, returns to the touchline tonight to guide Bayern Munich…

Wed May 01 1996 - 01:00

FRANZ BECKENBAUER, Germany's former World Cup-winning captain and coach, returns to the touchline tonight to guide Bayern Munich in the first leg of the UEFA Cup final against Bordeaux in Munich's Olympic stadium.

The former libero guided Bayern Munich teams which clinched the European Cup in three successive seasons between 1974 and 1976.

As chairman in recent seasons, the `Kaiser' has been frustrated by the club's failure to match the glory days of the 1970s. A 1-0 home defeat by Hansa Rostock in the Bundesliga last weekend prompted Beckenbauer to sack coach Otto Rehhagel and take control again.

The presence of a man who demands respect in every corner of the German football world is sure to concentrate the minds of a team which, on paper, is one of the best in Europe.

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One of their big guns, Lothar Matthaeus, who has a close relationship with Beckenbauer nurtured during his time as national team captain, said: "I suspect Franz can give us the push that Otto couldn't provide any more.

Bayern received a massive eve-of-final boost last night when German League leaders Borussia Dortmund threw the championship race wide open again as they crashed to a 5-0 away defeat at Karlsruhe. Bayern are now level with Borussia on 58 points with four games each to play.

Bordeaux have watched the latest twist to the Bavarian soap opera with a certain amount of satisfaction.

"Bayern are nervous. You can, see that by the change in coach," trainer Gernot Rohr said. "And they take risks in defence."

"I've told my players to get ready to play in front of 65,000 fans who have been drinking beer all day and who are going to the stadium to shout," he said.

Bordeaux also had an unpromising warm-up for the tie, losing 1-0 in Nice to drop to 16th place in the French league and are not yet out of relegation danger.

The French side will be without midfielder Zinedine Zidane, elected French Player of the Year on Sunday, and outstanding striker Christophe Dugarry, both suspended for the first leg. Right-back Geoffray Toyes will also be, absent through injury.