The Säbener Strasse practice ground was not the safest place in the world on Wednesday, especially for anyone in the vicinity of the professionals’ quarters. Bosom buddies Franck Ribéry and Daniel van Buyten had shinned up to the roof armed with buckets of water, before taking aim at innocent passers-by.
One reporter, a number of fans, José Sosa, Luca Toni and the Italian’s interpreter all fell victim to a forcible cooling shower in the heat of the day, before a willing accomplice delivered the biggest prize of them all, club captain Oliver Kahn. Mark van Bommel lured the keeper into position on some pretext or other, before laughing like a drain as the Ribery/van Buyten trap snapped shut.
Gentle workout
The atmosphere at Bayern has certainly been more focused than this with just three days left until a Bundesliga fixture, although it is not every day that the double is safely in the bag and nothing rides on the next match. Wednesday training comprised little more than a spot of football tennis, before the players who had played no part in the previous evening’s spectacular 11-5 friendly win over Darmstadt were sent for a jog.
Ribéry, Toni and Miroslav Klose, all sidelined recently with minor injuries, were back on the practice ground. “There’s a good chance of all three playing on Saturday,“ revealed assistant coach Michael Henke, as Bayern look like being close to full strength for the final fixture at home to Hertha BSC.
Question-mark over Jansen
The only definite absentees are Hamit Altintop (rehab after surgery) and Willy Sagnol, who stretched a hamstring in Darmstadt, although Marcell Jansen (calf) is a doubt. However, all three will definitely make it onto the field of play, at the latest for the official presentation of the championship shield at around 5.20 pm.
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