Time running out for Klinsmann and Ramos

German Football / Ralph Ellis / 30 September 2008 / Leave a Comment

Jurgen Klinsmann's return to Bayern Munich as manager hasn't gone to plan so far and neither has Spurs' start to the Premiership. The two clubs are in action in Europe over the next couple of days but could more trouble for both result in Klinsmann taking the hot seat at White Hart Lane, asks Ralph Ellis.

It's no secret Jurgen Klinsmann came close to replacing Rafa Benitez at Liverpool. In fact the moves made to attract the former German manager to Anfield prompted Bayern Munich to get his signature tied up in a hurry.

A few months later and word from the Continent is they are already wondering if they'd have been better off letting Klinsmann move to Merseyside instead. Six games into the season and Germany's biggest club have just two wins and two draws to show for their League matches and the pressure is on. They lost 1-0 to Hannover 96 on Saturday and sporting director Uli Hoeness grumbled: "I'm annoyed now when I look at the table. It can't go on like this."

Despite their poor start, Munich are as short as [2.0] to win the Bundesliga but there's no reason at all at the moment to back that. The defeat by Hannover was their second in a row - the previous weekend they got drubbed 5-2 at home by Werder Bremmen.

According to Matt Law in this morning's Daily Express, Klinsmann now has four weeks to save himself from the sack - by a curious coincidence about the same amount of time that Juande Ramos can expect at Tottenham! Spurs are [3.7] favourites to still be bottom of the table at the end of October, but at the moment you'd still think that's a bet to avoid too as they have massive chances to get their season going with games against Hull, Stoke and Bolton to come. If that doesn't happen, however, then chairman Daniel Levy will be under pressure to bring in a name the fans can relate to and there's no bigger White Hart Lane hero than Klinsmann.

All that means the pressure is on for Bayern in the Champions League tonight. They are [2.0] to beat Lyon at home, and that could well be worth laying as Klinsmann's side, stuck as low as ninth in their domestic league, are desperately short on confidence. The French club showed their strength of spirit by fighting back to rescue a 2-2 draw with Fiorentina in their opening Group match - while Munich scrambled a scrappy single goal win away to Steaua Bucharest, doggedly hanging on to big Belgian defender Daniel Van Buyten's early goal.

About the only consolation for Spurs fans is that Arsenal haven't got everything their own way. After last weekend's shock home defeat by Hull comes another test with Porto arriving at The Emirates this evening. The Portuguese are not remotely, of course, a patch on the side that Jose Mourinho assembled to win the trophy, but they will still fancy their chances and Arsenal are another team to think about laying at [1.54.] Porto strolled to a 3-1 win over Fenerbahce in their in their first Champions League outing and can be dangerous at set pieces - while Kolo Toure is admitting in today's Daily Mail that Arsene Wenger is worried his side are not tall enough to defend corners.

Five things you might not know about Jurgen Klinsmann

1.Born in Goppingen, near Stuttgart, he started playing football aged eight - but the boy who was to become a great goalscorer started out as a goalkeeper for his first youth team

2.His family own a baker's shop in Stuttgart's Bottnang district and if all goes wrong with football Jurgen could go back to making bread - he completed his apprenticeship as a fully qualified baker

3.Despite his brilliant playing career he doesn't hold a record for his country - his 108 caps were way behind Lothar Matthaus on 150, while his 47 goals were one behind Gerd Muller

4.He was at least the first player to score three goals or more in each of three World Cups

5.After causing controversy by keeping his home in California while he was Germany's manager, he still has a home in Newport beach for his Chinese American wife, former model Debbie Chin, and their children Jonathan and Laila.