Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer has strongly criticised the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following Bayern Munich’s narrow win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Bayern were furious with the poor physical condition of Thiago Alcántara and Javi Martínez, who both travelled with Spain to Ecuador for the friendly last Wednesday.
“Perhaps we should have sent Thiago via Sydney or Melbourne,” remarked Sammer after the game in Frankfurt.
“Javi Martínez came back completely knackered. It’s a disgrace. I have no sympathy for the Spanish Federation.
“They are asking a lot of these players. They are happy to play for their country, but what they are doing to these players is outrageous, with all respect.
“We want to have Thiago in the best possible condition and these types of trips don’t help him at all. He was completely out of gas and ruined.”
And the German complained about the organisation of the RFEF.
“Their communication is a catastrophe, they announce their squad lists far too late.”
I understand Sammer’s comments that traveling to South America for a midweek exhibition game is simply a money grab by the Spanish Football Federation, something they have a habit of doing.
But the bulk of the Spanish national side is made up of Barcelona players, and they appeared to have recovered from the trip just fine, albeit with one extra days rest, as they thrashed Levante 7-0 on Sunday.