Klose slams teammate Frings
BERLIN: German striker Miroslav Klose slammed his national and Werder Bremen team-mate Torsten Frings yesterday over comments he made to the German press that Klose should quit the Bundesliga club.
The 28-year-old Klose - top-scorer at last year's World Cup - has been under pressure since failing to score in Germany's 6-0 rout over minnows San Marino on Saturday and has been linked with a multi-million euro transfer to Bayern.
And Frings, 30, stirred things up by saying he believes Klose wants to leave Bremen and his priorities lie elsewhere, which drew his team-mate's wrath on the eve of Germany's Euro 2008 clash with Slovakia.
"Those who really know Torsten will know he changes his opinions like the wind. When the wind blows in a different direction, he will contradict what he said before," Klose told daily German paper the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
Frings, who had himself been negotiating with Italian giants Juventus before extending his Bremen contract, commented last weekend that he thought it would would be better for Klose to leave Bremen.
"I did not say anything when he was linked with a move to Juventus and I wish he would do pay me the same compliment," added Klose.
The fact the pair will be playing in the same German team on Wednesday night in a Euro 2008 qualifier just adds to the drama and this is the last thing German coach Joachim Loew will want to hear on the eve of the game.
And veteran midfielder Frings stirred things up again yesterday when he replied to Klose's comments during a press conference before the game in Hamburg.
"A player who is not happy (in a team) helps nobody," he insisted.
"I have no problem with Miro, I don't mind what he says to the press, but his opinions and what he has to say doesn't interest me."
Klose was forced to apologise to his club and their supporters when it was revealed he had met Bayern officials to discuss a transfer and although he has pledged his future to Bremen, he is expected to join Bayern when his contract expires next year.
AFP
(China Daily 06/06/2007 page23)
