The vice-president of the German Football Association (DFB) has lashed out at Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan over his struggles with the national team.
Gundogan ended last season excelling for Manchester City and has been a key player for Barcelona since making the move during the summer, but that success has not carried over to the German national team.
In his last six starts for Germany, Gundogan has tasted victory just once and Hansi Flick’s side are currently on a run of three games without a win, sparking a furious rant from DFB vice-president Ralph-Uwe Schaffert.
In a tirade which saw Schaffert call for a major overhaul of the national team squad, the vice-president told Hannoversche Allgemeine: “Strangely enough, he plays outstandingly at club level and then plays in the national team in such a way that you ask yourself if he sent his less talented twin brother.
“We may no longer just need the highly gifted, but perhaps also those who are prepared to roll up their sleeves.”
Schaffert also took aim at Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich, claiming he has “so far failed to prove he is a leading player”.
DFB sporting director Rudi Voller was less than impressed by Schaffert’s comments.
“Everyone in the DFB has their job,” he told Bild. “It’s nice that everyone is interested in the national team, and criticism is completely acceptable after the last few games. But criticising our important players so excessively is not acceptable.
“I can’t imagine that he really meant it that way. I would be happy to explain this to him again over a cup of coffee.”
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