Germany's first-choice goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has slammed his predecessor in the national number one shirt Oliver Kahn and emphasised his dislike for the Bayern Munich captain.
'He takes himself far too seriously and thinks he is very important,' Arsenal 'keeper Lehmann told German weekly magazine Der Spiegel.
Lehmann replaced Kahn as Germany's goalkeeper during last summer's World Cup in Germany and the Bayern Munich man has not played for his country since.
Kahn, who is recovering after elbow surgery in the United States last week, said in a recent interview that he 'doubts there will be another era of famous goalkeepers in the German shirt'.
The egotistical Kahn only holds goalkeeping legends such as Sepp Maier, Toni Schumacher, Bodo Illgner or even himself as worthy of a golden era of world-class players in Germany's number one shirt.
'I don't like it when someone glorifies themself,' said 37-year-old Lehmann, who is on the bench at Arsenal even though he has recovered from his own elbow and achilles tendon injuries.
Kahn has previously said the German national team's goalkeeper has to be the first-choice shot-stopper for his club.
'You don't have a chance to win your place in the German side if you can't hold down your place with your club,' said Kahn.
Lehmann aims to win back his Arsenal shirt after next Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Ireland at Croke Park followed by the showdown with Group D rivals the Czech Republic four days later in Munich.
Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger says he will 'have him back in the side' after the Euro 2008 games with Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia currently wearing the north London club's number one shirt.
