Unwanted Lehmann sulking yet again

BEIJING, April 11 -- Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann said yesterday he was furious at being continually left on the bench in favor of Manuel Almunia.

Speaking to German soccer magazine Kicker, Lehmann also described Arsenal's Champions League exit this week to English Premier League rival Liverpool as a tragedy for him personally.

"I don't know what the last weeks (of the season) will bring," Lehmann said. "I wanted to win the Champions League and thought I had a good chance of playing. The fact that I won't now get that chance makes me furious."

Lehmann played a key role in Arsenal's 2006 Champions League run only to be controversially red-carded 18 minutes into the final for bringing down Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o.

With Almunia in goal, Arsenal's 10 men took a shock lead but was eventually beaten 1-2 by their Spanish opponents.

Lehmann said yesterday Wenger had promised to recall him if Almunia made mistakes but claimed the promise was broken.

"When I am not playing even though the other keeper is not exactly playing well, then it's difficult," he said. "I still haven't been given my place back and I'm being kept out by someone who is playing his first season at a big club."

(Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)