Javi Martínez looked relaxed, tanned and happy to have the ball at his feet again on Tuesday when he resumed training after his summer vacation. The Spaniard looked genuinely delighted to be back, although the weather hardly played its part as the rain bucketed down. “That's just great,” the defender said as he looked to the heavens, “I just love your weather in Germany.” Welcome back, Javi!
Martínez and his Spain team-mates were knocked of the World Cup only two games into the group stage, providing the first shock of a tournament full of surprises. It was hard to stomach for the Bayern number eight, but Martínez has already put the negative experience behind him and is looking to the future as he became the first of the club's World Cup stars to resume training. “I'm totally fired up for football again,” he informed fcbayern.de, “I enjoyed my holiday and the power is back.”
The fans at the Säbener Strasse facility on Tuesday morning saw Martínez and company spend around 90 minutes on the practice ground. Slowly but surely the group is getting larger. In extremely good news for Bayern fans everywhere, Franck Ribéry took part in team training for the first time this pre-season after recovering from a back injury. “I'm feeling better and better,” the winger reported after the session, “training with the team is the best thing there is.”
Lewandowski ‘full of adrenaline'
Ribéry was a visibly enthusiastic participant in the morning workout. The France international was on sparkling form in front of goal and converted almost all his team-mates’ crosses, sometimes firing into the top left corner and sometimes into the right. The crowd on the touchlines applauded time after time. Claudio Pizarro (calf) and Sebastian Rode (ankle) also resumed the full programme without any negative reaction to minor injuries.
Elsewhere, Robert Lewandowski and the players who featured in the 1–1 draw away to MSV Duisburg in Monday’s benefit match completed a session of jogging and light exercise. Interviewed by FCB.tv, the club's new centre-forward commented approvingly on his first game in a Bayern shirt: “I'm pleased, but I hope I go on and score in the first competitive match.” The Pole said he had not been nervous about his first outing for the nation's most successful club, but was instead “full of adrenaline.”
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