I was right to criticise Loew in the media, says Ballack

Just four weeks after his public spat with Germany coach Joachim Loew, die Mannschaft captain Michael Ballack has said on Tuesday he was right to criticise the national coach in the press here.

“Sometimes you want to go public with things, in an even manner, to wake and shake things up a little,” said Ballack in a Premiere television interview.

“I was criticised from many sides when I went public.

“There was actually very little criticism in what I said, but sometimes you have to make a few critical tones in public.”

And on Tuesday night at a function in Berlin, Loew declined to comment on the new comments from his captain.

Last month, Ballack criticised Loew in a thinly-veiled attack when he told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) that senior players deserve more respect and loyalty.

The Chelsea star's comments came after veteran Torsten Frings was dropped for last month's World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Wales.

Frings also criticised Loew live on television here at the time, saying it was wrong for him to be dropped.

Both Ballack and Frings later apologised to Loew in person, but neither played in last week's 2-1 friendly defeat against England – Ballack was recovering from a foot operation while Frings was left out.

Ballack now says last month's comments in FAZ, which included: “experienced national players deserve at least some respect and loyalty”, were misinterpreted.

“There were a few assumptions made, because actually the interview did not give away so much at all,” said Ballack in Tuesday's interview.

“There were a few irritations during and after the European Championships and I don't find it a bad thing in football if you have a different opinion sometimes.”

Ballack is adamant he did not intend criticising Loew, either now or last month, but when asked if he regretted last month's FAZ interview he said: “No, I gave my opinion in a reasonable tone.

“I was attacking nobody, that was not what I wanted to do at all.”

Loew has said he was angered by Ballack's comments in FAZ and on the eve of the England friendly in Berlin, reminded the entire Germany squad of their code of conduct which stresses the need to address any complaints behind closed doors.

“These things are now eliminated and have been checked off,” said Loew in Berlin last week.

“I am sure that such a thing will never happen again.”

But Ballack's new comments do not imply the issue is as resolved as Loew would like.