Michael Ballack's agent accuses Bayer Leverkusen of making midfielder 'a scapegoat'

The 35-year-old's representative has reacted angrily to claims that the player has underperformed since returning from Chelsea in 2010

27-Jan-2012 5:55:00 PM

By Enis Koylu

More On :  Bayer Leverkusen, Michael Ballack
Germany: Bayer Leverkusen, Michael Ballack
Bongarts

Michael Ballack's agent has accused Bayer Leverkusen CEO Wolfgang Holzhauser of making the former Germany captain a scapegoat for the team's underwhelming performances.

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Holzhauser claimed that Ballack had failed to deliver since returning to the BayArena in 2010 after a four-year stint with Chelsea and revealed that the club would be open to offloading the 35-year-old midfielder before his contract with the club expires at the end of the season.

However, the player's representative, Michael Becker, has now leapt to his client's defence and accused Leverkusen of being two-faced.

"In the [mid-season] training camp, everyone praised Michael for his performance in the first round [of the championship],” he told Express.

“And then the coach and team were booed despite the 3-2 win over Mainz [last weekend].

"Since it obviously is not possible to part ways with Robin Dutt, they had to find another scapegoat, and they have found one in Michael.

"[But Holzhauser's] statements are factually incorrect. With Ballack last season, Leverkusen were surprise runners-up.

"This season, Bayer have, thanks to Michael's good performances, reached the last 16 of the Champions League."

Leverkusen, who are currently sixth in the Bundesliga, travel to Werder Bremen on Saturday, boasting an excellent record over Thomas Schaaf's side in recent years.

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