World Cup winner Jerome Boateng is finally back after three months out injured. The 27-year-old defender is in the Bayern München squad travelling to Madrid today for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Atlético Madrid. It is unlikely, however, that coach Pep Guardiola will play Boateng from the start, given his lack of match practice.
The match at the Vicente Calderon is “the aim. But I need to if I can make it, I don’t want to take any risks,” Boateng had told Bild newspaper last week. Ultimately, only he will decide whether or not the time is right for him to make his comeback, he added. Currently Boateng sees himself at around 90% fitness.
The Germany international suffered a groin injury at the end of January and only returned to first team training last week. Germany head coach Joachim Löw recently expressed his hope, looking ahead to the European Championship in France (10th June-10th July), that “FC Bayern don’t rush him back too quickly.”
Guardiola has taken a squad of 22 players to Madrid, with Holger Badstuber and Arjen Robben among those missing.
World Cup winner Jerome Boateng is finally back after three months out injured. The 27-year-old defender is in the Bayern München squad travelling to Madrid today for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Atlético Madrid. It is unlikely, however, that coach Pep Guardiola will play Boateng from the start, given his lack of match practice.
The match at the Vicente Calderon is “the aim. But I need to if I can make it, I don’t want to take any risks,” Boateng had told Bild newspaper last week. Ultimately, only he will decide whether or not the time is right for him to make his comeback, he added. Currently Boateng sees himself at around 90% fitness.
The Germany international suffered a groin injury at the end of January and only returned to first team training last week. Germany head coach Joachim Löw recently expressed his hope, looking ahead to the European Championship in France (10th June-10th July), that “FC Bayern don’t rush him back too quickly.”
Guardiola has taken a squad of 22 players to Madrid, with Holger Badstuber and Arjen Robben among those missing.
