Following a day off, the Bavarians got back to work at Säbener Straße on Thursday morning. Two days after the Reds earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 at Liverpool, Niko Kovac had his starting eleven undergo a regenerative session in the performance centre, while he took charge of training with the rest of the squad. In addition to the positive situation regarding the return leg, the head coach was also the bearer of other good news from Anfield.
The 47-year-old, who had no cause for complaint regarding injuries to his players after the match revealed that "Everybody's in good shape. There are always minor scrapes." Before the Bundesliga clash with Hertha Berlin on Saturday (3.30 CET) he hopes "that we'll hopefully have everyone available for the weekend".
Boateng back on the pitch
There is currently just the one question mark over the availability of two pros: Mats Hummels was absent on Thursday "with a cold and stayed at home", as Kovac explained. Moreover, Leon Goretzka had also only "worked in the regeneration area" after a tendon irritation on his right ankle had prevented him from playing in Europe's premier competition on Tuesday. The Bayern coach said that he would have to await the final training session: "If he completes it painlessly, he'll be an option".
But Kovac can call on Jérôme Boateng's services again. The central defender was back at the training ground on Thursday after having overcome a gastrointestinal infection that prevented him from travelling to Liverpool. The injured duo of Arjen Robben (persistent thigh problems) and Corentin Tolisso (following a cruciate ligament rupture) did not participate in the team session, however.
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