The Germany playmaker is struggling to find his best form in Bavaria but the club’s sporting director has promised to give him time to prove his worth
Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer has vowed to stand by struggling playmaker Mario Gotze following the 22-year-old’s poor run of form.
The Germany star has fallen down the pecking order at the Allianz Arena and only featured for the final few minutes of the Champions League game against Barcelona on Tuesday, despite the Bavarians’ current injury crisis.
Honorary club president Franz Beckenbauer has been a vocal critic of the former Dortmund man’s attitude and performances, but Sammer has pledged to give Gotze time to prove himself.
“Mario has a contract, so why should he have no future?” Sammer told Bild.
“He is a young player and many of them need a bit of time. We are by his side, we’ll help him. He has our full support and of course we need him.”
Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, meanwhile, says he has sympathy for Gotze’s struggles and backed him to prove his detractors wrong.
“It’s never easy, especially at a top club when there are 13, 14, 15 players at the same level,” he added.
“It’s not easy for the coach or the players. Any player in our squad does a good job. He’s just a young player who needs a bit of faith.
“I can speak from experience. When I was young, there were several times when I didn’t play either.
“He’s a good guy. He has the right character.”
Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff also pledged his support to the World Cup winner who has recently been linked with a move away from the German champions.