German side Schalke have angrily blasted Ghana for using playmaker Kevin-Prince Boateng in last week’s decisive World Cup qualifier against Egypt, saying his role in Cairo has negatively affected his form.
The Bundesliga side questioned what training regiment the midfielder underwent with the Black Stars ahead of last Tuesday’s World Cup playoff match against the Pharaohs claiming his time with Ghana has had a negative impact on Boateng.
Schalke launched the attack on Ghana after Boateng failed to glitter over the weekend when they played against Frankfurt in the thrilling 3-3 draw German top-flight game on Saturday.
The German club insist the outstanding player should not have traveled with the Black Stars to play the match because of his injury problems.
Boateng spent nearly two weeks with the Black Stars as they prepared in Istanbul before travelling to Egypt for the match in which he scored to help Ghana seal its 2014 World Cup ticket.
However, Schalke are have expressed their unhappiness with the player for insisting on joining the Black Stars for the match as he had to visit a specialist in Munich after the Cairo over the worrisome left-knee problem.
Schalke signed the Ghana international in August in a shock 10 million Euro deal from Italian giants AC Milan and are expecting more from the Black Stars player.
The coach of the German side Jens Keller insists Boateng’s role in helping the Black Stars seal qualification to the global tournament negatively affected his form in their match against Frankfurt.
“He is not satisfied, we are not. He spent two weeks on the road. I do not know what they did there,” the 43-year-old manager Horst Heldt said.
“The trip has certainly done him no good.
“But that’s not easy when an association has requested a player.”
Boateng scored as the Black Stars lost 2-1 in Cairo but sealed World Cup qualification with a 7-3 aggregate win over the Pharaohs.
But he admits he was not in good form when they played Frankfurt on Saturday.
“I did not come into the game,” the 26-year-old admitted.
The talented playmaker has come under attack from some Ghana fans who claim he feigned injury when he missed previous matches with the Black Stars.
The ferocious attacks on Boateng has forced the player to turn up for national team duty as suspicion over his commitment to the Ghana cause grew.
Boateng has defended himself insisting he is loyal to the Black Stars but with Schalke also attacking him for playing for Ghana, the midfielder can’t win the argument with either side.
