A number of Bundesliga clubs have backed Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp following his recent riposte to Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer.
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Last week, Sammer lashed out at the German top flight and put Bayern’s dominance of the division down to its teams not working as meticulously as the European champions. The former Germany international suggested that Bayern were not only superior in quality but also in mentality.
He also insisted that some responsibility must lie with the other clubs who lack the drive and intensity to match Pep Guardiola’s side, who currently top the Bundesliga by 20 points.
Klopp, however, hit back at Sammer on Friday when asked for an opinion on his statement.
He said that he does not know what Sammer does at Bayern and that the former Dortmund player and coach should “thank God every day that somebody had the idea” to bring him to the Bavarian club.
“I think that Bayern would not have less points without Matthias Sammer,” Klopp added.
Sammer did not want to add fuel to the fire on Saturday, and ahead of Bayern’s 6-1 win at Wolfsburg, said: “It is the strength of FC Bayern that we are only focused on us. That is my answer [to Klopp].
“I’ve only said what we do and that some teams might consider this. I’ve also added that I do not want to voice criticism. And it should not be perceived as that [criticism].”
However, at the weekend several officials from various Bundesliga clubs moved to back Klopp.
“If we had the chance to, over two years, buy players for 130 million euros, we’d win the league without Sammer’s advice,” Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel told Bild am Sonntag. “That’s not too difficult.”
Speaking to Sky, Hannover sporting director Dirk Dufner called Sammer “arrogant” and “impudent.”
Borussia Moenchengladbach coach Lucien Favre also hit out, saying: “I can’t judge how FC Bayern train, but I don’t think Sammer is right. We all have our methods.”
Frankfurt CEO Heribert Bruchhagen added: “Si tacuisses philosphus manisses, if you had only remained silent you’d still be a philosopher.”
Kicker, meanwhile, also commented on the rift on Monday.
“Sammer’s words, in this form, were unnecessary and Klopp’s counter was worthy of a two-time German champion,” chief editor Jean-Julien Beer wrote. “It should not be Bayern’s claim that Dortmund have the laughs on their side that easily.”