It seems even the most experienced players can forget that criticising your coach in the media pretty much always backfires.

Germany captain Michael Ballack has backed down and offered an apology after he angered coach Joachim Loew by suggesting in a newspaper interview that senior players were not being treated with enough respect.

“I will sit down with Loew as soon as my injury permits and apologise for my behaviour,” the Chelsea midfielder said on Sunday.

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos spent Sunday evening “sucking the bench” (as they say in Spain) after he used an interview with As newspaper to express his dissatisfaction with coach Bernd Schuster and said the club lacked a truly influential player.

One of the most admired wing backs currently playing and a staple in the national side, Ramos said he felt isolated and complained he wasn’t enjoying his football.

Real said the player’s comments had nothing to do with his absence against Athletic Bilbao — he was replaced by the creaking Michel Salgado – but the fact that Ramos was forced to watch the 3-2 win from the sidelines spoke volumes.

It doesn’t matter how rich you are, the boss is still the boss.

Iain Rogers, Madrid

PHOTO: Ccoach Joachim Loew and captain Michael Ballack attend a reception in Berlin after Germany finished runners-up at Euro 2008. REUTERS/Markus Gilliar/Pool