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Bayern Munich coach slams Ribery’s lazy recovery

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal on Friday criticised Franck Ribery for his lack of commitment in a friendly game organised to help him regain full fitness.

Bayern Munich coach slams Ribery's lazy recovery
Photo: DPA

Bayern beat third division Unterhacing 2-1 on Wednesday, with senior squad members Ribery, Diego Contento and Brazilian defender Breno all taking part as they continue their recoveries from injury.

Van Gaal, though, expressed particular disappointment with the performance of French international Ribery, who has been out for eight weeks with an injury to his right ankle.

“He didn’t make any effort and showed no commitment,” said van Gaal, who is likely to name Ribery on the bench for Saturday’s game with Bayer Leverkusen.

“It’s a shame. I don’t organise friendly matches for my own good. None of them really did anything, but the prize goes to Ribery.”

Van Gaal, who also clashed with Ribery last season over the Frenchman’s readiness to return from injury, said the 27-year-old was not in the right physical shape to make a successful comeback.

“His preparations haven’t been good,” added the Dutchman.

Ribery made his return from injury with a 20-minute substitute appearance in Bayern’s 3-0 win at home to Nuremberg last Sunday.

In an interview with Munich daily tz, Ribery admitted that his relationship with van Gaal was sometimes challenging.

“He has a very strong personality and it’s something that I respect,” said Ribery. “I listen to him and I know I can get better.”

Ribery also said that Bayern could still retain their German title, despite currently being 12 points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund, and his coach was in agreement.

“It’s very good that he says that everything is still possible,” said van Gaal.

Ribery has had a tough year, having been charged with soliciting an under-age prostitute and banned for three games by the French Football Federation over his role in France’s World Cup training boycott.

AFP/ka

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

https://twitter.com/GravesenFumado/status/1764242481984491822

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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