Captaincy the key for Lahm

Recently installed Bayern Munich captain Phillip Lahm said he welcomes the responsibility his new role brings.

Lahm, 27, took over the captaincy after former skipper Mark van Bommel signed with Italian giants AC Milan earlier this week.

The full-back is pleased with his new role and is still hopeful of his side’s chances in the Bundesliga, despite sitting 14 points behind table-toppers Borussia Dortmund.

“It is obviously more responsibility and that’s want I naturally want,” Lahm said.

“It is (a) very appealing position to all the Bayern players, and I take on this responsibility willingly.”

Lahm says finishing in a Champions League place – allocated to the top two sides in the Bundesliga, with the third side to go down the qualifying route – is crucial for his side at the very least.

The German international was speaking after a 4-0 rout of Alemannia Aachen, which saw Bayern book a spot in the DFB-Pokal Cup semi-finals, another goal of Lahm’s this season.

“The important thing is always that we finish the season in a Champions League place in the Bundesliga. We have every chance and that is the goal,” he said.

“However the German Cup is also important to us, and we know it would be nice to get to Berlin to play in the final. We saw today that the team gave their all in order to get there.”

Lahm also paid tribute to former skipper van Bommel, but said players leaving was part of football.

“He was a hard-working player who did everything he could for the team, but this is how it goes in football,” Lahm said. “It was his decision to leave and the club didn’t stand in his way.”

“This is how it goes in football – players go, new players come. It is often the same with managers. It is all part of this business.”