Matthaus backs Low in Ballack row
Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus has sided with current coach Joachim Low in his dispute with captain Michael Ballack.
Chelsea midfielder Ballack criticised Low in a newspaper interview last week and has since made a public apology, although Low is demanding he travels to Germany to discuss his remarks in person.
Ballack accused Low of treating the older players in his squad, including team-mate and close friend Torsten Frings, with a lack of respect.
While admitting the likes of Ballack and Frings are important to Germany’s success, Matthaus added that “any player can be replaced”.
He went on to back Low in any decision he takes, having been impressed by the way he has handled the issue so far.
He said: “Low is perfectly right. The players should let their performances do the talking, not their mouths.
“Certainly we all tried what we could to cement our places in the past, but whenever we had something to say, we did so with Franz Beckenbauer, or whoever, face to face or on the telephone, but not in public.
“Low has done nothing wrong. Now he and Ballack must try to build up trust again.
“It won’t be easy – it is like a marriage when you discover that your partner has been seeing somebody else.
“But you need such players if you want to be successful.”
