Klinsmann stands by out-of-favour Lehmann

GERMAN national coach Jurgen Klinsmann vowed to stick by Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann despite the stopper’s demotion to the Highbury substitutes’ bench.

Some high-profile errors saw Lehmann, aged 35, dropped in favour of unknown Spaniard Manuel Almunia, but Klinsmann, aged 40, is prepared to field the custodian despite a lack of first team action.

“Jens will carry on getting games even if he is left out in the cold by Arsenal,” said Klinsmann to magazine Kicker.

“He has not become a bad goalkeeper overnight.”Klinsmann warned the shot-stopper that he must be first choice for next season, at Arsenal or another top club, to have any chance of winning the number one jersey for the 2006 World Cup on home soil.