The versatile defender has insisted the creative attacker has the full support of his team-mates and remains a key man for the German champions
Bayern Munich skipper Philipp Lahm has leapt to the defence of Mario Gotze, claiming that the under-fire attacker has nothing to prove at the Allianz Arena.
The Germany international has been struggling to live up to the high expectations in Bavaria since joining the club from Borussia Dortmund in 2013 for €37 million and has received his fair share of criticism for his fluctuating form in the past few months.
Indeed, Gotze is now being linked with a move to Juventus, with Arturo Vidal set to move in the other direction, but Lahm has stressed that his compatriot remains a key figure at Bayern and has the full support of his team-mates.
“Gotze has never been the subject of criticism with us. That’s why he does not have anything to prove,” Lahm was quoted as saying by TZ.
“Mario is an excellent player. We all know what he can bring and do for the team.”
Gotze has made 93 appearances in all competitions for Bayern, scoring 30 goals in the process.