Franck Ribery meant no disrespect by throwing Bayern Munich shirt

Franck Ribery says he did not mean any disrespect when he threw his shirt after being substituted in Bayern Munich's Champions League win on Tuesday.

Ribery, 34, was taken out on 78 minutes with the German champions leading 2-0 against Anderlecht, who had been reduced to 10 men following Sven Kums' early dismissal.

As Thomas Muller replaced him, a visibly upset Ribery, Bayern's longest-serving player, took his time leaving from the far end of the pitch, avoided coach Carlo Ancelotti and launched his shirt into the substitutes' bench.

But he said on Instagram on Wednesday that his actions were only a demonstration of his passion for the club.

"I was always one of the honest and loyal players in this business," Ribery posted on Instagram. "I have respect for the fans and for the club I love.

"Throwing my wet jersey yesterday night had nothing to do with disrespect or anything else people who believe or pretend to know me accuse me of.

"This wet jersey which I have worn for more than 10 years now and give my everything for, with all my impulsiveness and my will to win, with which we have achieved so much. Some people will never understand what it means to give everything for your club and I'm sorry for them.

"As long as I stand on the pitch I, Franck Ribery, will defend our colours and will play every game with all of my passion."

Ich war immer einer der ehrlichen und loyalen Spieler in diesem Geschäft, ich respektiere die Fans und ich respektiere den Club, den ich liebe. Der Wurf meines nassen Trikots von letzter Nacht hat nichts mit Respektlosigkeit zu tun, oder irgendetwas anderem, dass mir vorgeworfen wird von Leuten, die glauben oder vortäuschen mich zu kennen. Dieses nasse Trikot, in dem ich seit mehr als 10 Jahren alles gebe, mit all meiner Impulsitivät, meinem Siegeswillen und mit dem wir soviel erreicht haben. Manche werden es nie verstehen, was es bedeutet, alles für seinen Club zu geben und das tut mir leid für sie. Solange ich auf dem Feld stehe, werde ich, Franck Ribéry, unsere Farben verteidigen und in jedem Spiel mit all meiner Leidenschaft bei der Sache sein. Weil ich den Fußball liebe, aus Liebe zu unseren Anhängern und um viele Fans auf der Welt glücklich zu machen. Mit Unterstützung unserer unglaublichen Fans, ihrer Liebe zum Club und ihrer Leidenschaft werden wir auch in Zukunft gemeinsam eine schöne Geschichte schreiben! MIA SAN MIA! 💪🏼🔴

A post shared by Franck Ribéry (@franckribery7) on Sep 13, 2017 at 6:04am PDT

Ribery's teammate Arjen Robben had admitted after the game that a win by three goals was a smaller margin than could have been expected against Anderlecht's 10 men.

"Normally if you win a Champions League game 3-0 it's good," he said. "But if you get a penalty after 10 minutes, lead 1-0 and have 11 [men] against 10, you have to be more aggressive and confident.

"You have to show the fans in the stadium a good football game and try to score more goals. That's what's missing.

"I don't really know [why they failed to do more] and we have to question ourselves. We have to talk about this and we have to improve it.

"I mean, we play in the Allianz Arena and for our fans. If you play against 10 men, against Anderlecht, with all due respect, you have to score more goals.

"We haven't done this and that's a pity for us and for our fans."