Jérôme Boateng was beaming when he took to the training ground on Friday morning. Two weeks after sustaining a thigh injury in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid, the world champion returned to the grass. Boateng turned in a 20-minute running session under the auspices of rehab coach Thomas Wilhelmi.
But Jupp Heynckes had more good news one day before the last Bundesliga match against VfB Stuttgart. Manuel Neuer (metatarsal) completed "70, 80 percent of the squad programme. Everything looked very good. He showed everything a keeper needs. It's very pleasant." Heynckes was "optimistic" that Neuer will join the squad for the DFB Cup final. "We'll see next week. It might very well be the case."
Kingsley Coman (syndesmosis injury) is making "very good progress" too, according to Heynckes. The Bayern head coach expects that the Frenchman will resume the squad programme "most probably on Tuesday."
However, three Bavarians will also miss the match against Stuttgart with problems. Arjen Robben has a thigh problem sustained in the first leg against Real Madrid two weeks ago. "It's not a severe injury. He was feeling better today, but the doctors think he should only perform rehab training without the ball for one or two days," explained Heynckes.
David Alaba has the "same symptoms he had before the first leg against Madrid," said Heynckes. "It's a nerve, it's the back. We hope he'll rejoin the squad for the cup match." Regarding Juan Bernat (thigh problem) the Bayern coach spoke of a "slight improvement. He could run yesterday, but he's not yet available for selection."
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