Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl has provided a fresh update on the club’s growing injury crisis, and unfortunately, there is not much good news in the immediate future.
The biggest concern is Ismael Saibari, who is expected to be sidelined for three to four months. Serge Gnabry will also miss the remainder of the calendar year, dealing another significant blow to Vincent Kompany’s attacking options.
There is, however, some encouragement regarding Jamal Musiala and Luis Díaz. Musiala is targeting
a return to team training during the upcoming international break, while Díaz is expected to rejoin the group after the break.
Eberl explained why Musiala’s recovery has taken longer than initially anticipated.
“Jamal’s situation is known. He didn’t have an optimal pre-season due to his condition, then he got injured with the DFB, not with us. It’s taking a bit more time because we want to get to 100% fitness. I hope he can train more and resume team training during the international break — and then make appearances again after the international break,” Eberl said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “We’ll take another look at Michael Olise tomorrow; we’re taking it day by day. It’s positive that he’s available because he’s an outstanding player who always benefits us. However, we’ll also avoid the risk of it becoming a longer-term injury. Manuel Neuer was out for an extended period, but he trained, so we’ll see how he is tomorrow.”
Eberl also addressed how Bayern intend to compensate for the growing list of absentees, pointing toward the versatility within the squad and the club’s recruitment strategy.
“I said from the beginning that we want to sign flexible players who can play in several positions. Isi [Saibari] can do that, unfortunately he’s injured. Nene Brown can also do that. He played many games for us in that attacking midfield role. But whether he will play, and where he will play, is the job of the coach,” Eberl said (via @iMiaSanMia).
The timeline is certainly not ideal. Losing Saibari for several months and Gnabry for the rest of the year leaves Kompany with fewer options, particularly in attack.
Bayern will have to get creative, lean on their squad depth, and hope the returning players can gradually ease the pressure. The international break cannot come soon enough for Säbener Straße.
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