Ribery criticises Bayern's lack of spending

02 February 2012 17:46

France star Franck Ribery on Thursday criticised Bayern Munich's lack of spending over the winter break and said the German league leaders missed a chance to strengthen their squad.

Bayern are at Hamburg on Saturday night in the Bundesliga and need a win as rivals Borussia Dortmund and Schalke are level with them on 40 points, with the Bavarians top by virtue of goal difference.

Ribery is expected to play in Hamburg despite suffering with back pains at the start of the week and says Bayern should have strengthened their squad during January's transfer window.

Coach Jupp Heynckes and chief executive officer Karl-Heinz Rummenigge have said the league leaders enjoy enough strength in their squad already, but Ribery disagrees.

"I think it's a big problem for us if two or three players are injured," Ribery told German magazine Kicker.

"(Bayern) have no real good bench and don't have a really good second team. But I'm not the president, nor the manager, just a player."

With sub-zero temperatures expected in Hamburg, Ribery says he is ready to play on Saturday, but was struggling with the arctic temperatures at training in Munich.

"I still have pain, but I feel much better. I can play on Saturday," he said.

"It's not much fun. It is brutal, even the warm-up is difficult in this cold. Minus 11 degrees, it's too much."

Bayern play FC Basel in the round of 16 of the Champions League later this month and Ribery says he is still dreaming of Bayern winning three titles this season.

"We are still ahead and we have the chance to get all three titles, but we must not cramp up, then we'll have a good chance," he said.

"I for one dream every day of celebrating with our fans in Munich's town square having won all three trophies."

Source: AFP