Bayern prepared to repeat Champions League success, says CEO Kahn

BERLIN - Bayern Munich can defend its 2020 Champions League title, Oliver Kahn said, taking office as the club's new CEO on Monday.

The 51-year-old successor of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, on his first official working day in office, called the Bavarian's current squad competitive enough to win the most important club competition and add other titles to its vita.

"To win the 10th consecutive national title is one of our big goals as no club managed to perform that well in the past," the former Germany keeper told Xinhua in an interview.

Kahn is optimistic regarding a contract extension with Kingsley Coman and Leon Goretzka. However, he said no more transfers would follow the signing of French international Dayot Upamecano for 40 million euros from RB Leipzig.

The former keeper also mentioned a particular challenge lies ahead as Bayern faces a new season after the Euro 2020 with Julian Nagelsmann as the new coach aside from the changes in the leadership level.

He noted that expectations regarding coach Nagelsmann "aren't higher than with any other Bayern coach. Julian knows about Bayern's title hunger," adding that the club is expecting the new coach to develop talents in the academy.

Kahn and Bayern president Herbert Hainer spoke of a loss of up to 150 million euros caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the club keeps its borders "as we won't cross red lines all of a sudden," Kahn added ahead of Nagelsmann's first regular training session this Wednesday.

The 2001 Champions League winner said the club, en route to fulfilling its international ambitions, is prepared to make up for the competitive disadvantage caused by the fact "that the Bundesliga's clubs have to live with less TV money income than other leading leagues."

Kahn said Bayern could count on values such as a "culture of success and winner's mentality you can't buy with money."

Kahn called financial fair-play and salary caps for players the most pressing issues for the future, adding that to keep the highest economic and sportive goals in balance remains an unwritten law for his club.

"Players signing Bayern know they have the great chance to win all possible titles as they join one of the leading clubs," Kahn stated.

Turning 52 this Tuesday, Kahn mentioned the club's increased efforts to understand the demands of its fans "as the club's understanding it's fans best will be the most successful ones."