France international midfielder Franck Ribery has criticised his Bayern Munich team-mates over on-pitch tactics, the German media reported on Tuesday.
“I complained to the coach (Jurgen Klinsmann) about the fact that I never have enough support when I want to attack on the left side,” Ribery told the tabloid daily Bild. “The coach said I had a point.”
Ribery, who has been repeatedly linked with a big-money move away from the club, was speaking in reference to Bayern’s disappointing 0-0 draw against Werder Bremen on Sunday, which left the reigning champions fifth in the Bundesliga table.
His remarks come at a time when speculation about his future is mounting, with his agent having recently suggested that he could be set for a move to Spanish league leaders Barcelona.
German football legend and former Bayern hero Franz Beckenbauer has expressed his frustration with the situation.
“It’s always a problem when a player wants to leave and holds a gun to his club’s head because he has only a slim chance of leaving,” Beckenbauer told Bild.
“Regarding Ribery, it seems that these statements are targeted,” he added. “Bayern have been dependant on him for a long time.”
During the recent winter break, Ribery caused a storm by revealing that it would be “a dream come true” to play for Barca’s fellow Spanish giants Real Madrid.
He also refused to commit himself to Bayern beyond the end of his current contract in 2011.
“It gets very tiring having to deal with all these questions all the time,” Ribery said last Wednesday.
He has nonetheless made it clear that his future will be decided by Bayern’s performances in the Champions League.
The four-time European champions look very likely to progress to the quarter-finals of this season’s competition, after a Ribery brace inspired them to a 5-0 victory over Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon in the away leg of their last-16 tie.
