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Max Kruse was sorted out at VfL Wolfsburg by coach Niko Kovač
Photo:
IMAGO/Michael Taeger / IMAGO/Jan Huebner
Max Kruse responded to criticism from VfL Wolfsburg coach Niko Kovač on Instagram.
In a video, the 34-year-old attacker said he respected his coach's opinion at VfL Wolfsburg.
“But I think everyone who knows me knows that not only at VfL Wolfsburg, but in the last ten or twelve years that I've been playing professional football, when I've been on the field, I've always given everything for him Club I played for," said Kruse.
When Wolfsburg 1-0 against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, Kruse was not in the VfL squad.
Kovač explained that Kruse would no longer be used at VfL and justified this by saying that the ex-national player did not identify with the club.
“We demand 100% identification and concentration from every player with a focus on VfL.
We didn't have that feeling with Max. That's why he wasn't there and won't be there in the future," said Kovač on the Sky TV channel.
When asked if this would be the end of a great Bundesliga career, Kovač replies: "Yes."
»No one else decides that for me«
These statements were apparently unexpected for Kruse.
"It came as a surprise not only to me, but also to many of you, especially after the last two games I played from the start," he said on Instagram, where he contradicted Kovač.
"I think I'll decide for myself when my time in the Bundesliga is over.
Nobody else decides that for me,” said Kruse.
As proof of his identification with VfL Wolfsburg, he cited his commitment to the club after the move from 1. FC Union Berlin in the second half of last season.
“I came to Wolfsburg in January to help the team.
And I think that's what I did last second half of the season."
Kruse explained that he will continue to give his clubs high commitment in the future, "as long as I can train and play football." For the time being, he will have to continue to do so in Wolfsburg.
The club will "respect" its contract until the end of the season, it said.
The 14-time national player may continue to participate in training.
Currently, Kruse cannot change anyway, at least not within the top European leagues.
There, the transfer period was closed on September 1st.
Changes will not be possible again until January 2023.
mrk/dpa/sid
