Munich  - Bayern Munich Juergen Klinsmann, attempting to lift his side after two successive defeats, said Monday criticism made him work even harder.

"Criticism makes me even more ambitious. I am the sort of person who works even harder when things aren't going so well," he said.

Klinsmann has to pick his team up after a 2-1 home defeat to Cologne ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie at Sporting Lisbon.

Three defeats in four matches have put Klinsmann back under pressure at Bayern where a number of players have called for a more defensive approach.

Klinsmann still has doubts over the fitness of Italy striker Luca Toni who missed the Cologne defeat with an Achilles tendon injury.

Toni was unable to train on Monday but still hopes to be fit for the last-16 first-leg match.

"We need a good game to be the Bayern we were. Lisbon is coming at the right time," he said.

"I am not yet completely fit but I will be giving everything to be ready. We still have two days to go." (dpa)