Metzelder supports striking Levante players
Real Madrid defender Christoph Metzelder has backed the Levante squad's decision to go on strike for their final game of the season.
The Levante players walked out of training on Wednesday as part of their strike action over unpaid wages, and have announced that they will not play the campaign's final league game against Real unless the club sorts their economic problems. Madrid, who won the league title on May 4, are intending to use the game as a chance to celebrate their crown with their fans.
"At the moment we're thinking about the Levante players, who are our colleagues and who are standing up for their rights," he told Spanish newspaper AS.
"They have our support and I hope they can sort their problems out as soon as possible.
"We want to play on Sunday to finish off such a good league and this season and of course to celebrate the title with our fans."
This is the second time the Levante playing staff have called a strike, having last month announced they intended to withdraw their services on the weekend of April 26 and 27 because of the club's continuing failure to pay up outstanding salaries and bonuses dating back two years.
That situation was averted after a deal was eventually thrashed out on the evening of Friday April 25, with Valencia city council stepping in to help the club by guaranteeing an eight million euro fund to keep the players going in the short term.