Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have revealed that they will not risk playing Arjen Robben in their final matches of 2018 in a bid to have him fully fit for matches in the New Year.
Robben, who will be 35 in January, was left out of the squad that played out a 3-3 draw against Ajax in the UEFA Champions League, due to a muscle injury after also sitting out the most recent Bundesliga matches against Nurnberg and Werder Bremen.
Bayern head coach, Kovac says the Dutch winger will be rested for the remainder of 2018 – involving three Bundesliga matches – before their midseason break in order to help them recover fully.
Speaking in a news conference, Kovac said, “He won’t play again in this half of the season. The focus is on January 4”.
“The doctors looked at it. It makes no sense for us to go into a major injury”.
Bayern Munich are on their way to another run of three games in just eight days, with Saturday’s game away at Hannover in the German Bundesliga followed by less daunting games against both RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt next week.
Fans will also be hopeful for the quick return of Mats Hummels to the first team after picking up a slight injury during the 3-2 defeat to his former club, Borrusia Dortmund on November 10.
Kovac has hinted that the German has been working really hard in training to try to win his place back in the squad.
“I know what Mats can do. You can rely on him and others. I feel a special fire from these players in training”, he said.