Four months after his serious injury, Jamal Musiala has reached an important milestone at FC Bayern. The 22-year-old was back on the training pitch at Säbener Straße for the first time – but there is still no sign of him making his competitive comeback any time soon. Coach Vincent Kompany is tempering expectations.
Thursday was an emotional day for Jamal Musiala. After around four months of rehab, the attacking player completed his first running session on the training pitch. The DFB star worked on his return under the watchful eye of fitness coach Simon Martinello.
„It was great for me to be back on the pitch. It felt great,“ said Musiala with relief. Especially the return to fresh air and the feeling of grass under his feet was „something very special“.
Musiala had suffered a serious injury in the quarter-final of the Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain (0:2) after a collision with PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma – a dislocated ankle and a fractured fibula forced him to undergo surgery and take a month-long break.
„I want to be at 100 per cent“
The 22-year-old was optimistic but realistic: „A few weeks ago it was my first jump, then the first time on the Alter-G treadmill, now back out on the court. I think you take a new step forward every week.“
Further stages of training are now to follow: „Now it’s about getting used to running again, building up speed. Then it starts with the ball – dribbling, passing, shooting.“
Musiala emphasised that he doesn’t want to rush his comeback: „When I come back, I want to be at 100 per cent, at a good level. That’s why we’re taking our time.“
Kompany plans for Musiala’s return in January
Despite the progress, coach Vincent Kompany remains cautious. Before the Bundesliga match against Gladbach , the Bayern coach made an initial prediction: „We see Jamal every day. His body language shows how happy he is to take the next step and get back on the pitch. But it’s all about patience. We need Jamal, of course, but it can always take longer with such serious injuries.“
Kompany made it clear that the plan is still for him to return in January: „The plan was for him to come back in January. The first steps are very positive, but we don’t want to rush things.“
In view of the current run of success, FC Bayern can afford to build Musiala up carefully. Munich have won all of their first twelve competitive matches of the season – even without perhaps their most creative attacking player.