Bayern Munich have released a strongly worded statement criticising the timing of Joachim Low’s decision to prematurely end the international careers of three of the club’s star players.
Low, the Germany national team coach, indicated on Tuesday that Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Thomas Muller were no longer a part of his plans in the build-up to Euro 2020.
Germany have been in a period of soul-searching since their dismal exit from the 2018 World Cup, and Low explained “this is the year for our new beginning” as he axed the trio with a combined 246 caps.
With crucial games coming up, against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday followed by Liverpool in the Champions League next week, Bayern questioned why Low decided to make his decision known now.
“Basically, we do not comment on sporting decisions of the national coach, the nomination of the squad of the national team is solely the responsibility of Joachim Low,” the club said on Wednesday.
“However, we believe the timing and circumstances of the announcement of this decision to the players and to the public is questionable. The last international match of the German national team took place on 19 November 2018.
“The fact that the players and the public were informed three months later, just ahead of important matches for FC Bayern next Saturday in the fight for the Bundesliga title against VfL Wolfsburg and a few days before the decisive second leg in the round of 16 of the Champions League next Wednesday against Liverpool, irritates us.”
Bayern added their “surprise” that the announcement took place on the same day Low made an unannounced visit to Bayern’s training ground.
“It was important for me that I could personally tell the players and the bosses at Bayern about my thoughts and plans,” Low explained.