Following their UEFA Cup semi-final exit, Bayern will be without Germany striker Miroslav Klose for three of their four remaining Bundesliga fixtures. The player will undergo surgery in Munich on Saturday to repair a multiple fracture of the nose, and will miss the forthcoming meetings with VfL Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld and MSV Duisburg.
”We can let him play again in ten days,” chief medical officer Dr Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt said ahead of the return flight from St. Petersburg to Munich. Klose, who sustained the original injury a week ago in the home leg against St. Petersburg, could return to contention for the final match of the season at home to Hertha Berlin on 17 May.
Hitzfeld seeks reaction
Ahead of Sunday’s trip to VfL Wolfsburg, there is also a question-mark over centre-half Martin Demichelis, who stretched a hamstring in the 4-0 defeat to the Russian champions. However, the mental pain may be harder to bear than any physical problems following Thursday’s demoralising defeat. “We could win the league on Sunday, but we’re just not thinking about that at the moment,” Philipp Lahm confessed.
Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld voiced similar concerns. “I fear we could be deflated from now on. We need to make sure we bring the season to a decent conclusion,” the 59-year-old warned his players on Friday. “It’s important we pick ourselves up and show a reaction.“
Point will be enough
Munich have won the German Cup and are poised to claim the league title, needing only a point from the trip to VfL Wolfsburg to seal a 21st domestic championship. Bayern could in fact win the league on Saturday without playing, in the event pursuers Bremen and Schalke fail to collect maximum points.
”We’d like to wrap it up mathematically as soon as possible. Once we’re confirmed as champions, we’ll have a reason to celebrate,” commented Hitzfeld. “The double is always very special.“
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