Jamal Musiala is really hitting his stride at FC Bayern. In the 7-0 rout of Union Berlin, the 23-year-old played the full 90 minutes for the first time since his health-related break. After the game, the star forward expressed his relief.
“I feel really good. Every game is a step forward. I know there are still steps I can take, but playing 90 minutes again is a great feeling. I haven’t done that in a long time, and I’m looking forward to what’s next,” Musiala explained to Sky after the game.
Against Union, the Bayern star showed—and not just physically—that he’s once again much closer to his usual level. Musiala scored the crucial 1-0 goal in the 18th minute and set up Michael Olise’s first goal shortly before halftime. In the closing stages, he even scored a second time, though the goal was disallowed due to a prior offside call on Ismael Saibari.
After the goal-fest, Musiala emphasized that the lopsided score shouldn’t obscure just how much effort went into the performance.
Musiala is gaining valuable playing experience
“It takes a lot of work to pull off a win like this. We played with a lot of energy right up until the last minute. That’s what we need in every game,” the 23-year-old emphasized.
For Musiala, it was the next important step within just a few days. In the 0-0 draw against Schalke, he had made his comeback after his break and played for about half an hour.
The next step came in the Champions League match against Bodø/Glimt. Musiala made the starting lineup and scored his first goal of the season in the 5-0 victory. Against Union, Vincent Kompany was able to significantly increase his playing time once again.
The fact that Musiala was able to stay on the field for the entire match is a positive sign, especially with an eye toward the coming weeks. The Bayern star himself, however, still sees room for improvement and wants to further enhance his rhythm.
“Perfect timing” with the DFB national team
The upcoming international break is the perfect opportunity for exactly that. Musiala will join the German national team, where he’ll train under new head coach Jürgen Klopp for the first time.
Klopp had already announced that, following Musiala’s recent difficult spell, he intended to keep him with the team for the entire duration of the international break if possible. Serge Gnabry, who made his comeback for Bayern against Union, is also expected to stay with the German national team for a longer period.
Musiala himself expects to be there for the entire time. “I think so,” he replied when asked about it.
The Bayern star has already been in contact with Klopp. His first impression is extremely positive: “We’ve talked a lot, but the vibes and energy are great, and I’m looking forward to my time there.”
For Musiala, this offers an opportunity to continue working on his rhythm right away with the DFB. When asked if the international break was coming at exactly the right time for that, he didn’t have to think twice: “Perfect timing, yes.”
Following his comeback, his first goal of the season, and now his first full 90 minutes, Musiala’s return is really gaining momentum.