Jamal Musiala is back on the pitch after months out of action. His comeback has not only brought relief to FC Bayern, but also to former club greats, with Arjen Robben making a clear appeal to the club’s fans and the public.
Former Bayern star Arjen Robben spoke about the return of Jamal Musiala on the sidelines of the Legends Cup at the SAP Arena in Munich. When asked about young players recovering from serious injuries, the Dutchman emphasized one point in particular: patience.
„You have to give him time. He’s still young and has had a serious injury. Please don’t judge him after three, four, five or six games – not even in the media,“ explained Robben.
Musiala celebrated his comeback for FC Bayern after 196 days and immediately provided an assist in the 5:1 away win at RB Leipzig. The 22-year-old came on as a substitute in the closing stages and set up Michael Olise’s goal with an overview. For Robben, however, this is no yardstick for an assessment. Nevertheless, he emphasized: „He has incredible abilities and will come back, I’m sure of that.“
Robben talks about his own experiences with injuries
At the same time, the former winger also described how he has dealt with injuries himself. The key factors for him have always been mentality and hard work. „Through a love of soccer and hard work,“ said Robben, describing his approach. His personal goal was to be fully fit again immediately after returning: „My aim was always to be at 100 per cent as soon as I got back and not to need weeks first.“
Robben made it clear just how intense this phase was for him. „You have to work extremely hard in the gym, sweat endlessly,“ said the former international, adding: „My motto was always: work harder and come back stronger than before.“ This attitude also helped him mentally to deal with setbacks.
FC Bayern are currently deliberately taking a cautious approach with Musiala. Coach Vincent Kompany did not put any pressure on him before the game in Leipzig and announced a cautious build-up. The attacking player’s first brief appearance was nevertheless noticeably positive, without giving rise to any expectations for the coming weeks.
After his return, Musiala himself was grateful to be part of the action again. Jamal Musiala wrote on his social media channels after the game: „grateful for every second“. After months of rehab, the focus is now on gaining match practice step by step.