Mario Gotze Criticised by Mehmet Scholl Amid Liverpool Transfer Rumours

Former Bayern Munich midfielder Mehmet Scholl launched a stinging attack on Mario Gotze on Tuesday evening, insisting he doesn’t train hard enough to earn a place in the team at the Allianz Arena.

Scholl, a gifted playmaker himself, was asked about the former Borussia Dortmund man ahead of Germany’s 4-1 friendly win over Italy, which Gotze played in and scored. And he didn’t hold back in his assessment of the 23-year-old, who he thinks is a shadow of the player he was at the Westfalenstadion.

“Why can't he produce consistent performances?” asked Scholl, per Jamie Anderson of the Daily Star. “For me the answer is obvious—he has to train much, much more. I remember when he was very young at Dortmund. He was an arrow, he was so fast, he was so athletic. At the moment he is so far removed from that.”

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Afterward, Gotze issued a response to the ex-Bayern man, who has managed the club’s second string in two separate spells. “I didn't know that he observes my training, that he is always there,” said the player. “I think that I train enough.”

Gotze certainly hasn’t played enough recently, but he offered a timely reminder of his talents with a virtuoso display in the win over Italy. Here’s his goal from the contest, per BT Sport Football:

His influence wasn’t limited to that decisive touch, either. The Bayern man was a menace to the Italy back line throughout the contest, finding space, playing clever passes and delighting the crowd at the Allianz Arena, who are so used to seeing him on the bench for his club.

Alex Chaffer paid tribute to Gotze's performance after the contest, hailing some of his touches as “world-class”:

Despite his talent, he may not be at Bayern much longer. According to Paul Joyce of the Daily Express, Liverpool are hoping to bring Gotze to Anfield, where he would be reunited with the manager who got the best out of him at Dortmund, Jurgen Klopp.

It seems as though the Reds boss has been keeping an eye on his former protege too, per Bild (h/t Bundesliga pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft):

Scholl's assessment of Gotze’s training is just conjecture, but there must be an underpinning reason why manager Pep Guardiola opts not to select him on a regular basis. It’s not due to his talent, which is undeniable, nor his playing style, something which seems to fit the coach's blueprint, so Scholl’s comments do resonate.

As a man who spent 15 years with the Bundesliga giants, winning eight league championships and one Champions League title, there’s no denying he’ll have connections, despite not being employed by Bayern at this juncture.

His claims may fill in the gaps for many, but they’ll do little to dampen the enthusiasm of the Liverpool fanbase when it comes to a potential transfer.