Kahn says his performance has improved

GERMANY goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has said that his performance had improved since coach Juergen Klinsmann deprived him of both the captaincy and a guaranteed starting position in the team.

Kahn, who led Germany to the 2002 World Cup final, produced several poor performances and made a string of blunders for both Germany and Bayern Munich before being demoted when Klinsmann took over in August.

The new coach put Arsenal `keeper Jens Lehmann on an equal footing with Kahn, the two rivals taking turns in goal. "That's certainly one aspect of it," Kahn told Bild newspaper when asked if Klinsmann's policy was responsible for his improved form. "I have had to defend what I have accomplished in my career."