Of course, all eyes will be on Jamal Musiala if the national player actually makes his comeback in the atmospheric Osnabrück stadium. The 23-year-old himself longs for this moment, as does FC Bayern and football Germany, including national coach Jürgen Klopp.
In any case, before the catch-up game in the first round of the cup on Wednesday (8.45 p.m./ARD and Sky), coach Vincent Kompany announced a prompt “go” for the Munich offensive wizard after his illness became known.
“Everything went perfectly, the way we wanted it to. And then it’s just a question – together with the specialists and with Jamal – that we choose the right moment: whether tomorrow, at the weekend or next week,” said Kompany before the final training and the trip to Lower Saxony.
The second collapse happened two weeks ago
It has been two weeks since Musiala collapsed for the second time in the friendly in Heidenheim, after he suddenly collapsed for the first time in the Munich Arena just three days earlier during the friendly against RB Leipzig.
Following the second incident, Musiala also informed the shocked public about an illness that had long been known within Bayern. He therefore suffers from neurological dysfunction. This can lead to short-term “absences”. The breakdowns happened after the medication was adjusted, but he now seems to be well adjusted again.
It is more likely that Musiala will be there next Saturday in the league game at FC Schalke 04 or in the subsequent home game against Bodo/Glimt at the start of the Champions League on Thursday next week.
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One thing is certain: Jonas Urbig will be in the Bayern goal for the second division promoted team in Osnabrück. Kompany revealed this in advance. The now 23-year-old is making his first competitive appearance this season.
Milestones for Urbig
Kompany explained the further plan with Urbig, which will continue to be built up to become the future number one for the record champions in Manuel Neuer’s probably last year as a professional. “We have already shown an incredible amount of trust in Jonas Urbig,” said Kompany: “He played many important games for us, one of which was the cup final. These are milestones where you can see that he can represent us at the highest level. And part of his development is that he keeps getting playing minutes.”
Of course, the constellation does not change. Germany’s record goalkeeper Neuer remains “number one”. Urbig played 20 competitive games last season, three of them in the Champions League and the DFB Cup. He also replaced Neuer, who had a calf injury, in the 3-0 final against VfB Stuttgart.
Klopp and the national team are also tempting
Urbig is also considered number one in the DFB goal under the new national coach Jürgen Klopp. He was allowed to be a training goalkeeper at the World Cup flop in America. The season debut 15 days before Klopp’s first squad nomination is therefore an important recommendation moment for Urbig. Of course, he wants to be there at the end of September when the national team starts the Klopp era with four Nations League games.
Osnabrück should under no circumstances become a stumbling block for Urbig and the cup defenders FC Bayern. “The most important thing is that you know that everything can be difficult and that you don’t underestimate the task. I’ve heard a lot about the Bremen Bridge,” said Kompany about the hot atmosphere in the blatant outsider’s stadium. That’s why he warned: “You have to be mentally ready for a real fight.”
Since the 0-1 defeat at TSV Vestenbergsgreuth in the 1994/95 season, the record cup winners have not embarrassed themselves in an opening game. And the series should continue. Because Kompany pursues a clear goal: It’s called Berlin. “Once you’ve been there, you always want to be in the final,” he said.