Ballack surprised Loew kept his job after WC flop

BERLIN: Michael Ballack believes Germany coach Joachim Loew should have lost his job in the wake of their woeful World Cup performance in Russia.

Ballack, 42, who captained Germany between 2004-2010, is the first senior figure in German football to say Loew should have been fired after his team finished bottom of their group in Russia.

“I was surprised, as well as many other people, that he kept his job,” Ballack told Deutsche Welle. “For a long time, he worked with the team and sometimes you should say that things don’t work anymore,” added Ballack on Loew’s 12-year tenure.

RELISHING SHOT AT REDEMPTION: KROOS

BERLIN:TONI Kroos says Germany are relishing the chance for redemption following a woeful World Cup campaign as they prepare for crunch Nations League matches away to the Netherlands and France.

“Those games sound good to the ear and we hear the ringing of six points,” quipped the Real Madrid midfielder. “We’re motivated, we want two wins.”

VIDAL SLAMMED FOR SOCIAL MEDIA RANT

BARCELONA:BARCELONA midfielder Arturo Vidal ‘lacked respect’ for his teammates by complaining on social media about not playing enough, the club’s sporting director Pep Segura said Thursday. Chilean international recently took his frustration out by posting messages on his Instagram account.

Segura, speaking to the Catalan daily Sport, said: “A professional has to show respect for his team-mates, for the dressing room and for the coach even if the decisions that are taken are not always the ones he expects.”

“Vidal knows he’s made a mistake and that he’s lacked respect for his teammates. I’m sure he will make amends.”

HENRY FAVOURITE TO TAKE OVER AT MONACO

MONACO: Monaco, languishing 18th in Ligue 1, said on Thursday that they have sacked Leonardo Jardim, who led them to a French title in 2017.

The club would not comment on a replacement, but Thierry Henry has been linked to the job.

TERRY APPOINTED VILLA ASSISTANT COACH

LONDON: Aston Villa have appointed Dean Smith as their new manager with John Terry as his assistant, the club said on Wednesday.

Smith, who developed a reputation for playing exciting, attacking football at Brentford, will replace Steve Bruce. Terry decided to call time on his playing career on Sunday.