Fritz hits back at Friedl and Ducksch for "unnecessary" criticism

After Werder Bremen's 0-0 draw with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, captain Marco Friedl and striker Marvin Ducksch criticized the coaching staff and expressed their disappointment that the Green-Whites seemed to settle for just a point despite playing 11 against 10 after Nico Schlotterbeck was sent off in the 73rd minute.

Now, Werder's managing director of professional football, Clemens Fritz, has responded to the comments, calling them "unnecessary".

"Basically it is good when players want more and everyone can express their opinion, I am also a fan of that. It just depends on how and where you say it. We can talk about everything internally, but not in public," Fritz told Kicker.

If a player wants to express his opinion again, "even if it's critical," Fritz said, "he can always come to my office and talk to me - or to Ole [Werner] or Peter [Niemeyer, head of first-team football].

The former Werder player also expressed his frustration at the suggestion that the club has not been active enough in the transfer market.

"We have kept all our key players, we have two players in every position and we have healthy competition," Fritz said, directing some words at Ducksch:

“And at the same time we have players who don't understand when they are substituted. Our expectations are different and we have communicated that clearly.”