Kahn calls on Bayern team mates to work harder for club

BERLIN, Feb 18 (Reuters) Bayern Munich captain Oliver Kahn has appealed to the sense of honour of his team mates, telling them they owe the club more passion and commitment.

''Bayern Munich gives so much to the players and it's up to us to give something back,'' the goalkeeper told reporters after Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Alemannia Aachen left the team 12 points behind Bundesliga leaders Schalke 04.

''It's obvious that the least we can do is to fight in every match as if it were a battle against relegation. We need more passion and fighting spirit.'' Bayern have picked up just four points from their five matches so far in 2007. Two of the three games since Ottmar Hitzfeld returned as coach in place of Felix Magath have resulted in defeats.

A third successive league title is out of the question and even snatching third spot and a place in the Champions League qualifiers looks a tall order.

A seventh defeat of the season yesterday left them in fourth on 37 points, seven behind second-placed VfB Stuttgart and five behind Werder Bremen in third.

Their next game is away to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday and Kahn warned that a change of attitude would be required.

''Our biggest problem now is that we lack the belief to come back from a goal down,'' Kahn said. ''It's something we have to work very hard on.'' REUTERS SAM KN1919