A rollercoaster year for Tolisso

It was a wonderful image when Corentin Tolisso returned to Munich after last summer. The World Cup winners’ medal dangled round his neck and he had a broad smile on his face. The Frenchman was brimming with confidence and was looking forward to showing what he could do in his second season at FC Bayern.

The 24-year-old quickly made up on the training deficit after the long World Cup and he put in brief appearances in the first round of the DFB Cup and on Bundesliga matchday two before returning to the starting eleven for the third matchday in the league against Leverkusen. The newly crowned World Cup winner demonstrated his great value to the team when he netted the equaliser at 1-1 on ten minutes.

Torn cruciate on matchday three

Everything pointed to Tolisso continuing his good run from Russia and making a mark in the new campaign. However, there was a big shock for him and everybody at FCB on the half-hour mark. After a challenge with Kevin Volland, Tolisso was left lying on the ground holding his knee. The feared torn cruciate was confirmed on the same day.

A tough time lay ahead for Tolisso who had to forego the much-loved turf of the football pitch in favour of the training facilities at the Performance Centre as he worked ceaselessly on his comeback. The midfielder refused to be downhearted and that made the joy of Tolisso returning for his first running session at the end of January even greater – that took him an important step closer to his big target.

Comeback after eight months

Tolisso celebrated his comeback at the end of May in the DFB Cup final in Berlin. Eight months of gruelling rehab finally produced a happy ending. "I've waited a very long time for this moment," said the visibly moved Tolisso at the Olympic Stadium. He was then able to gain match practice in the friendlies against Kaiserslautern and Lindau and finally play football again before heading off for a well-deserved summer holiday.

That started as the last one ended: with the memory of the triumph in Russia. Tolisso received the Legion of Honour award together with his France team-mates. With that good memory, the dangerous midfielder – with an impressive 11 goals and seven assists in 44 games for Bayern – will look to make up this term on what he missed out in 2018/19.

In spite of winning the World Cup, Tolisso only played for 81 minutes. But that was long enough to convince the management of his abilities. For president Uli Hoeneß the Frenchman was "practically a new signing" after the win against Leipzig and Niko Kovac was also full of praise for Coco: "He was good on the ball, showed great technique and solid in challenges. That's what we’re looking for and we know what he can do. He will have the chance to get going again in the new season." A year of many highs and lows lies behind Tolisso but he does have a very promising future.