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BERLIN: Veteran Michael Ballack on Thursday slammed his main rival Philipp Lahm for the Bayern Munich star's handling of questions surrounding who will captain Germany in 2011.
After an ankle injury in May ruled the 34-year-old Ballack out of the World Cup, Lahm took over the skipper's arm-band and led the Germans to third in South Africa.
Ballack returned to the Bundesliga at the start of the season, after four years with English side Chelsea, and joined Leverkusen, but a serious knee injury, on only his third game back, saw him miss the rest of 2010.
Lahm said after his World Cup success that he hopes to remain in charge when Ballack returns, but the veteran has said Lahm was wrong to go public on the matter and should have spoken to him personally.
“It is a question of respect towards the captain,” Ballack told German daily Express with Germany due to face Italy next in a friendly in February 2011.
“I have a clear opinion on this: to focus attention on the issue publicly at that time was wrong.
“If he had spoken to me, it would have left me with a very different impression.
“We have since spoken briefly. I still maintain you shouldn't do something like that.
“But we are professionals and something like that should not ever play a role.”
Ballack also said he was hurt by the way national coach Joachim Loew handled the issue after only announcing in September that the ex-Chelsea star will resume as national captain when he returns for injury next month.
“If he had made the announcement three months before, we would have avoided any unnecessary discussions,” said Ballack.
“I was hurt, I could not do anything.
“But I am glad that the national coach made the position clear after the event.”
In his absence, Bayern star Bastian Schweinsteiger and Real Madrid's Sami Khedira have formed a strong midfield partnership for the national side and Ballack admits he may struggle to win back his place.
“I will prove myself again, but I feel that at 34 years of age, it will be harder to reach the level to be able to play at the top again,” he said.
“This is a huge challenge.
“I also have a commitment to my club Bayer Leverkusen and the fans who expect a lot from me.
“I will return some of the faith they have placed in me.”
Ballack also insisted he has never considered retiring and hopes to make it back into the Germany team with the intention of making it to Euro 2012.
