Oliver Kahn: Chelsea 'bought' the Champions League

Bayern Munich and Germany legend Oliver Kahn has claimed that Chelsea‘bought’ the Champions League when the Blues beat Bayern in 2012.

Chelsea drew level on the night late into the match thanks to Didier Drogba’s powerful header. The Ivorian then scored the winning penalty in the shootout to give Chelsea victory over Bayern on the German Giant’s home soil.

But former Germany international goalkeeper Kahn believes the result was a clear demonstration that money dictates who wins the biggest honours in the game.

“It is the deciding factor,” Kahn told Kicker. “For promotion to the Bundesliga, you now need a budget of €20 million to €25m (£16.5m-£20m). To win the Champions League, €300m (£250m).

“Abramovich bought the title but what makes [Chelsea] any different to Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern?”

Kahn played a huge part in Bayern’s success in the late-90s and early-00s as well as starring for Germany at international tournaments.

He played a total of 780 games in Germany, first with Karlsruhe, then Bayern. He was also capped 86 times by his country.

Bayern Munich have won 23 Bundesliga trophies. Oliver Kahn has been involved in eight of them.