AMSTERDAM—Borussia Mönchengladbach's Fabian Johnson trained apart from the full squad for the second straight day on Wednesday, with the club still bemused at US national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann's recent remarks about the player not having fitness struggles during a weekend CONCACAF Cup loss to Mexico.
Due to a nagging thigh muscle ailment, the Foals remain uncertain as to when Johnson will resume full training or whether he will be available for Saturday's Bundesliga tilt at Eintracht Frankfurt.
"He was doing some individual work [today]," said 'Gladbach press officer Markus Aretz, to MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday. "It's still open [as to the question of how long Johnson will be sidelined]. He still has muscle problems, such as during the Mexico match."
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Not only are the club confused at why Klinsmann would publicly reprimand an injured player for asking out of a game, but they say it is the same complaint Johnson has dealt with for months now.
"He had this injury at the beginning of the season and missed a few matches," Aretz said. "Now [the Mexico game] was his fifth straight match playing."
Nevertheless, the US coach saw fit to send Johnson homewith some stern words after the right back asked off in the 111th minute of a still-tied Mexico contest. An official US Soccer release also stated the reason for his removal was not related to the early-season muscle setback.
"I had a very severe word with Fabian Johnson, and I sent him home today," Klinsmann told reporters. "He can rethink his approach about his team. He said he couldn't go anymore, and I reacted to it and obviously made the substitution. He just feared to possibly get an injury, but he was not injured in that moment. He got all stiffened up. It's a muscle issue. It's normal."
Foals interim manager André Schubert is among those at the club who were taken back by the US boss' actions and comments on the matter, but Aretz says not to expect war of words.
"He had some thoughts, yes, but he won't say them," relayed the spokesman, who said Schubert will address the media on Thursday.
