Michael Ballack, in an interview published on Thursday, criticized
Germany defender Philipp Lahm again for the way he handled the question
surrounding the national team captaincy.
Lahm took over from Ballack as Germany captain at the World Cup in
South Africa earlier this year when Ballack had to withdraw from the
squad due to injury.
The Bayern defender then said that he was hoping to keep the captain's armband, even when Ballack returned from injury.
Ballack told the Express daily it was wrong to speak about the
captaincy publicly at that time and that Lahn should rather have talked
to Ballack directly.
"It is a question of respect towards the captain," Ballack said.
"If he had (spoken to him), it would have left a very different
impression. We have since spoken, but I still have my opinions about the
issue. I maintain: You do not do something like that.
"But we are professionals and something like that will not always be important, we will let it pass."
Ballack also criticized coach Joachim Loew for his handling of the
issue after Loew only recently said Ballack remained his captain.
"If he had done that three months ago, all of us would have not had to deal with so much," Ballack told Express.
Ballack, 34, joined Bayer Leverkusen from Chelsea at the start of the
season, but has played just three matches before picking up a serious
knee injury that has seen him miss the rest of what he called a "nice
shit year."
"It has not all been bad. I won the league and cup with Chelsea, but
then was injured and have not been able to play much for Leverkusen," he
said.
Ballack reiterated that he has no intention to retire and hopes to
make it back into the Germany team with the intention of making it to
Euro 2012.
"I have had to deal with many difficult situations during my career
and I always bounced back. The situation is nothing new for me."
"I still want to prove that I can do it. But I am also noticing that
with 34 years it is becoming more difficult to get back to the level to
be able to compete at the top.
"I have seen that the team (Germany) can play well without me. But I
still want to be a part of the team if I manage to have the form and
play as well as is needed to perform at the highest level," he said.
The 98-times capped Ballack has never won an international title.
Gernmany's good showing in third place at the World Cup started a debate
whether he was still needed but Loew said he will be pick Ballack if he
is fit and in good form.
الموضوع الاصلى : Ballack criticizes Lahm, hopes to come back المصدر :منتدياتالأكام الكاتب: الأمير
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موضوع: Ballack criticizes Lahm, hopes to come back
الخميس ديسمبر 16, 2010 9:57 pm
