Lehmann wants Kahn’s place

Arsenal’s Jens Lehmann regards himself as the best German goalkeeper at the moment and feels he should replace Oliver Kahn as the national side’s first choice. ‘‘The better player has to play,’’ Germany’s reserve keeper told Thursday’s issue of soccer magazine Kicker. ‘‘My performances are more consistent. Over the past year I have lost two games and made two mistakes. I can’t really say that anybody else is better than I am,’’ the 34-year-old said.

Arsenal’s goalkeeper Lehmann made no secret of his difficult relationship with Kahn. ‘‘I didn’t know we were supposed to talk,’’ he told Kicker when asked why the two did not speak to each other. ‘‘I don’t have a 24-year-old girlfriend. I have a different life.’’ — (Reuters)