“Can DFB-Elf do harm at the World Cup”: Sharp criticism of Bayern again

WITHPort boss Ralf Kellermann of Champions League finalists VfL Wolfsburg took part in the discussion of the World Cup releases for the women’s football team and sharply criticized champions Bayern Munich. His club took note of Bayern’s move “with surprise and incomprehension,” Kellermann said on Wednesday.

Bayern do not want to send their five players to the German start of preparation for the finals in Australia and New Zealand (20 July to 20 August) as originally agreed on 20 June. The Munich women are only to join the selection of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg in three days. Therefore, the German Football Association (DFB) accused Bayern of “breaking the word”.

Longer regeneration for Bayern players

Kellermann sided with the association. “Given the chances of the German team to succeed in Australia and New Zealand, our goal was to come up with a joint solution that would best reflect the interests of the DFB and the relegated clubs,” said the VfL director. A unilateral termination of the agreement, which was reached by consensus and recorded in writing, could harm the high ambitions of the DFB team at the World Cup.”

The Bavarians referred to the guidelines of the European club association ECA and the worldwide association FIFA. They also wanted to allow their players to recover longer. However, Kellermann “strongly believes that this decision is not in the best interests of interested players who are competing for regular or team positions.”

Although the Wolfsburg women ended their season only last Saturday with a premier class final against Barcelona (2-3), the cup winners are behind the DFB deal because of their ten national players.

“However, VfL Wolfsburg is looking to resolve an earlier version that was developed with the DFB in the spring of 2023,” Kellermann said. – It would be desirable to follow a unified league path in the interests of German women’s football. after all, national competitions also benefit from “successful performance in the most important tournament in world football”.

Froms: “We stick to the agreement with the DFB”

German goalkeeper Merle Froms also didn’t want to rule out the impact that Bayern players’ lateness to World Cup preparations had had on team spirit. “It’s hard to say, you have to be honest. It’s always difficult to pick up the pace in the national team after the season and get used to it,” the 28-year-old Wolfsburg goalkeeper told Sport Bild.

Asked if it wasn’t fair that the Bayern side joined the national team later, despite the fact that they had a week more vacation than the players from Wolfsburg, who last played in the Champions League final (2:3 vs. Barcelona), Fromes replied: “It was always clear to us that we would stick to the agreement with the DFB.”