Jamal Musiala is back on the field. In the 0-0 draw against FC Schalke 04, the 23-year-old made his competitive comeback after his health issues and played more than 30 minutes right away. There is great relief at FC Bayern over the return of the No. 10. Nevertheless, the Munich club doesn’t want to rush things now.
Musiala has had a difficult few months. After suffering a serious injury at the Club World Cup last summer, the star forward initially had to fight his way back over a long period of time. At the start of the new season, he faced additional health issues.
After Musiala collapsed during two preseason matches due to absences related to a neurological dysfunction, Bayern reacted cautiously. The national team player was initially taken out of match action and missed the first three competitive matches of the season.
The next important step came at Schalke. Vincent Kompany brought Musiala on in the 57th minute to replace Lennart Karl. Despite the game still being up for grabs, the Bayern coach immediately put his trust in the returning player.
Musiala is to be brought back step by step
As reported by BILD, Bayern has developed a clear plan for the coming weeks. Although Musiala played more than half an hour at Schalke, his playing time is to continue to be increased in a controlled manner.
Accordingly, the 23-year-old is set to receive more playing time bit by bit. At the same time, regular breaks are planned to avoid overexertion. Further management of his workload will be carried out in close coordination between Musiala and Kompany.
The star forward has been fully participating in team training for some time now. The focus is now on regaining his rhythm under competitive conditions.
The long-term goal is clear: Musiala is to return as soon as possible to the top form with which he regularly shaped Munich’s offensive play before his long hiatus.
How much playing time Musiala actually gets in the upcoming matches will therefore likely be decided on a case-by-case basis. The next challenge awaits as early as Thursday in the Champions League against Bodø/Glimt.
“We’re looking forward to having Jamal back.”
After Musiala’s comeback at Schalke, Max Eberl had already explained how closely his return had been monitored.
“After the incidents, we gave him the peace and quiet he needed. His medication was adjusted, and then—in consultation with the doctors, the coaching staff, and of course with him—we assessed how he was feeling and confirmed that he was ready to play today. That’s why he’s definitely an option and will be brought back into the lineup immediately whenever he’s on the roster. We’re looking forward to having Jamal back, deciding games for us.”
The fact that Kompany brought Musiala on as a substitute right away in a tight match against Schalke underscores the trust placed in the offensive star. Nevertheless, maximizing his playing time isn’t the top priority for Bayern in the coming weeks.
Rather, Musiala is to be gradually and carefully brought back to full workload. After the setbacks of the past few months, the Munich team doesn’t want to take any unnecessary risks.