Bayern Munich's leadership has criticized Germany national team coach Joachim Loew for abruptly cutting three senior players from his squad, calling the timing of the decision "questionable" as the club faces critical matches.
Club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic expressed frustration over Loew's unannounced visit to Bayern's training facility on Tuesday, just days before the Bundesliga leaders' Champions League clash against Liverpool and a league showdown with Wolfsburg.
The decision to exclude Thomas Müller, Jerome Boateng, and Mats Hummels came despite their 246 combined Germany caps. Loew announced the move ahead of upcoming fixtures including a March 20 friendly against Serbia and a Euro 2020 qualifier against the Netherlands, citing a need for a "new start" after the national team's World Cup exit.
Loew's timing drew sharp criticism from former players and pundits. Former Germany midfielder Lothar Matthaeus called the decision "okay" but argued it was "very unfortunate" to occur "a week before the game against Liverpool." Matthaeus added the players could have been phased out months earlier after their 2014 World Cup-winning campaign.
Müller, Boateng, and Hummels were central to Germany's 2014 World Cup victory but struggled during the 2018 World Cup campaign. Bayern's leadership emphasized the disruption caused by the last international match - which took place on November 19, 2018 - and the impact on club preparations for high-stakes games.
While Boateng and Hummels turned to social media for solace, Mesut Özil expressed sympathy for Boateng, calling him "one of the best German players in the last decades." The trio's exclusion marks a significant shift in Germany's national team strategy ahead of the 2020 European Championship qualifiers.
