Bayern Munich defender Daniel van Buyten is furious with manager Jürgen Klinsmann, after having been left on the bench for the Champions League game with Sporting Lisbon.
In an interview with newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, the Belgian claims that he had been promised a spot in the team’s starting line-up for this game, only to be directed to the bench at the last moment.
“First he tries to make friends by promising me that I will definitely start, but on the day of the match he simply told me that I’d be on the bench. I asked for an explanation, but never got one. I get the feeling that things are over for me here. I try so hard and I still bang against the wall every time,” he said.
Van Buyten added that he has the support of influential teammate Franck Ribery, who immediately ran to the Belgian after scoring his first goal against Sporting.
“Franck is just as furious as I am. He really had to calm me down. He doesn’t understand why I wasn’t allowed to start.”
Van Buyten did eventually make an appearance, replacing Lucio at 12 minutes from the end.
