Michael Ballack has issued a damning response to national coach Joachim Low's request that the pair meet in Germany.
Ballack looks forward to showdown talks with German coach Low
Michael Ballack has issued a damning response to national coach Joachim Low's request that the pair meet in Germany to discuss Ballack's comments in a newspaper interview where he questioned his coach's decisions.
Ballack stated that Low had been disrespectful to experienced international colleagues Torsten Frings and Kevin Kuranyi.
While Frings was left out of the team for the World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Wales, Kuranyi was left out of the squad altogether against Russia and he subsequently walked out at half-time.
Low has been angered that his captain felt the need to vent his feelings in the media before approaching himself and has threatened to strip the Chelsea man of the captaincy.
Ballack told
Bild: "The German Football Association will have to arrange it with my employers Chelsea.
"I am open to this one-to-one discussion at any time. I am glad that the coach wants to talk to me and I am looking forward to this discussion."
Unsurprisingly national team-mate Frings has spoken of his support for Ballack. The 31-year-old, speaking after Werder Bremen's 2-2 draw with Panathinaikos in the Champions League on Wednesday, said: "Michael has been around long enough to notice when something is not right. When he feels that something is not going right, then it is his right to speak up.
"Players who have already proved themselves do not get worked up over nothing. Ballack has every right to speak out as captain - he only wants what is best for the team."
