Michael Ballack apologises to Jogi Low for outburst
source: http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/sport-news/more-sport/world-football/2008/10/27/ge...
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Chelsea star Michael Ballack backs down in Germany row "I'm sorry Low... I made a mistake"
Germany captain Michael Ballack has sensationally backed down in his war of words with manager Joachim Low after being threatened with being thrown out of the national team.
The row started after Chelsea star Ballack (32) criticised the coach about his handling of Germany star Torsten Frings in a interview with the 'Frankfurter Allgemeine' newspaper. Ballack slammed Low by saying: “If someone doesn’t want someone anymore, they should be honest about it”.
The public feud continued after the German manager retorted to BILD: “It disappoints me that he is playing people politics in this manner.”
In a bid to calm the situation and rescue his place in the side, Ballack made a full apology. But whether it will be enough to save his captain’s armband, remains to be seen.
Here is Michael Ballack's apology in full:
“I spoke to Jogi Low on the phone today and told him that it was never my aim to criticise his work as manager, but that I just wanted to protect and support my fellow players in any difficult situations they may find themselves in.
I hold Jogi Low in high regard both personally as a human being and as a manager.
My interview was based on situations and not on people. I didn’t want to attack anyone personally, but just openly and critically discuss things that are in my heart as captain. I don’t want to further discuss the content of the interview.
I consciously chose this point in time to give the interview because the team is playing well and winning and the manager is, in my opinion, in a strong and untouchable position. It would have been a weak move to give the interview if we had successively lost two games.
I did think that I would come under criticism for discussing my views, but I never thought that it would be to such an extent. Therefore I must admit that it was a failure to have done it in the manner I chose.
I will sit down with Joachim Low as soon as my health allows, and apologise for my conduct. One thing is clear: my absolute priority is the success of the team."
Germany captain Michael Ballack has sensationally backed down in his war of words with manager Joachim Low after being threatened with being thrown out of the national team.
The row started after Chelsea star Ballack (32) criticised the coach about his handling of Germany star Torsten Frings in a interview with the 'Frankfurter Allgemeine' newspaper. Ballack slammed Low by saying: “If someone doesn’t want someone anymore, they should be honest about it”.
The public feud continued after the German manager retorted to BILD: “It disappoints me that he is playing people politics in this manner.”
In a bid to calm the situation and rescue his place in the side, Ballack made a full apology. But whether it will be enough to save his captain’s armband, remains to be seen.
Here is Michael Ballack's apology in full:
“I spoke to Jogi Low on the phone today and told him that it was never my aim to criticise his work as manager, but that I just wanted to protect and support my fellow players in any difficult situations they may find themselves in.
I hold Jogi Low in high regard both personally as a human being and as a manager.
My interview was based on situations and not on people. I didn’t want to attack anyone personally, but just openly and critically discuss things that are in my heart as captain. I don’t want to further discuss the content of the interview.
I consciously chose this point in time to give the interview because the team is playing well and winning and the manager is, in my opinion, in a strong and untouchable position. It would have been a weak move to give the interview if we had successively lost two games.
I did think that I would come under criticism for discussing my views, but I never thought that it would be to such an extent. Therefore I must admit that it was a failure to have done it in the manner I chose.
I will sit down with Joachim Low as soon as my health allows, and apologise for my conduct. One thing is clear: my absolute priority is the success of the team."
