Arsenal Invincible Jens Lehmann has caused some anger in recent weeks with his comments on his former club.
Lehmann recently questioned whether Mikel Arteta was the right manager for Arsenal, whilst he also slammed the decision to bring in goalkeeper David Raya.
The former Borussia Dortmund star was the goalkeeper in the legendary Arsenal Invincibles side which last won the Premier League title in 2004, and he was also a notable figure for the German National Team.
Despite his legendary status as a player, Lehmann has now caused further controversy whilst Germany host Euro 2024, as he has criticised Spain ahead of their clash in the quarter-finals.
Arsenal legend Jens Lehmann fires shots at Spain ahead of Germany Euro 2024 clash
Speaking on Welt TV in Germany, the 54-year-old claimed that Spain, who have been the most impressive team at the tournament, have a small and inexperienced squad.
“It is a small and inexperienced selection, they are all very small in height and with very little experience,” Lehmann stated of the Spain squad.
He also labelled them a “youth team,” in reference to their “two very young” forwards, Lamine Yamal and Arsenal target Nico Williams.
“It is a youth team, because they have two very young athletes and do not have much international experience.”
“From the goalkeeper to the centre-forward, with Morata upfront, it is a very small team in terms of height.”
Real Sociedad star hits back at Jens Lehmann ahead of Germany vs Spain
Lehmann’s comments have caused controversy in Spain, and Real Sociedad winger Mikel Oyarzabal hit back at the former Arsenal star’s words.
“It’s another opinion, respectable but not shared. In the end we know that we are a group that is a great team and people will have their reasons to say that, but it does not affect us,” Oyarzabal stated in a press conference.
If Spain beat Germany to advance to the semi-finals, then Lehmann’s words will likely be mocked by the young team who are currently flying at the tournament.
Lehmann was in goal for the Euro 2008 final, which saw Germany lose to Spain 1-0 courtesy of a Fernando Torres strike, in a game in which Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla, and Lukas Podolski all appeared, with Fabregas and Andrei Arshavin also named in the Team of the Tournament.
That result, which began a period of dominance for Spain, is likely to be brought up in response to Lehmann’s comments, and the Arsenal icon will now have even more riding on the upcoming game.
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