Football: Van Gaal under fire from Bayern's bosses
Posted: 20 November 2009 0240 hrs

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BERLIN : Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal has come under fire from the club's senior management ahead of the German giants' Bundesliga clash with league leaders Leverkusen.

Bayern have struggled to impress this season and with their Champions League campaign effectively over, the German giants are only eighth in the Bundesliga before Saturday's match against unbeaten Leverkusen at Munich's Allianz Arena.

Van Gaal took over as coach last summer, but has enjoyed only limited success as he tries to build a team at Bayern where instant success is both expected and demanded.

His side are third in their Champions League group - six points behind leaders Bordeaux, but van Gaal's insistence he is consulted about all decisions has drawn sharp criticism from team manager Uli Hoeness.

"A big club like Bayern Munich can not be led any longer by one person alone," Hoeness told German mass circulation daily Bild.

"Louis van Gaal is of the opinion that he must control everything."

And Hoeness admitted there is a problem between Luca Toni and van Gaal after the Italian striker stormed out of the stadium after being substituted during Bayern's 1-1 draw with Schalke a fortnight ago.

"There is certainly a problem between player and coach," said Hoeness, refusing to say which of the pair will still be at the club next summer.

And Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer said the club's lowly league league position is hard to stomach.

"I cannot say things are great if we are eighth in the league," said Beckenbauer.

"Van Gaal must learn to have more confidence in people and to delegate responsibility."

Hoeness also insisted Bayern will not buy any players in the Bundesliga's three-week winter break, but may well sell some of their squad.

"No, we will not buy anyone, but we may get rid of one or two dissatisfied players," said Hoeness.

Meanwhile French midfielder Franck Ribery is expected to return to training next week as he looks to recover from a persistent knee infection.

Hoeness has revealed Ribery's inflamed knee has baffled doctors.

"We have done everything we can to help his knee heal," said Hoeness.

"One (doctor) says the problem comes from his teeth, the other says it is from his back.

"But I get the feeling he will train next week for the first time."

The French midfield star has suffered with the knee injury for several months and missed France's World Cup qualifier win over Ireland on Wednesday.

- AFP /ls