Bayern Munich defender Niklas Sule opens up about his recovery process from an ACL injury.
Bayern Munich had to go through another season with rotten luck on the injury front. The defending Bundesliga champions have lost many players to serious injury throughout the season. However, things are looking much better now as players are on the right track to make their returns.
Niklas Sule has been the biggest injury casualty for Die Roten this term. The German defender ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during a league game in October. Since then, he has been recuperating on the sidelines.
Sule took a big step in his recovery process on Monday. The 25-year-old center back started light training on the grass. He still needs a lot of time to start extensive training with his teammates. However, he remains confident about making a return before the end of the season.
Speaking to the club’s TV channel (via Sky Sports), Sule confirmed that the first training session has been very positive for him. Along with targeting to play in Euros, Sule is also determined to help the team during the final phase of the season.
"“I just noticed it, I run completely symptom-free, and that’s what counts. The European Championship is my huge goal, but not just that.”“In the meantime, it is also my goal to help FC Bayern as quickly as possible and to be an alternative again at the end of the season.”"
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Bayern chiefs had initially insisted that Sule is unlikely to play again this season and will make a return at the start of next season. Die Roten need to manage his injury cautiously, like the approach they used last year to ease Corentin Tolisso back into action from the same injury.
Tolisso didn’t play a single game last season after his injury and started rigorous training during the pre-season tour. Sule is also likely to go through that process, but I can see him pushing for some game time so that he can declare himself fit for Euros. It can be a massive gamble to rush him back to action as this is Sule’s second ACL injury.
Apart from Sule, Ivan Perisic is the other long-term absentee for Bayern. Just when the Croatian was picking up form, he suffered a fracture in his ankle during training. Perisic is likely to be back in action after the next international break in March. Meanwhile, Javi Martinez is close to making a return as he started training on the pitch last week.
Die Roten will be hoping that every member of the squad is fit in the next two months. Games will come thick and fast, so every player will have a crucial role to play. The Bavarians have some important fixtures in the next ten days as they resume Champions League campaign at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.