Hitzfeld set to rotate squad against Dortmund

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1321 votes: 2

11.04.2008

The plane bearing a jubilant Bayern party took off from Madrid-Barajas airport at 11.25 on Friday morning, although the Reds’ delight at sealing a UEFA Cup semi-final berth was slightly tempered by injuries to Franck Ribéry and Marcell Jansen. The pair are rated doubtful for Sunday’s home Bundesliga meeting with Borussia Dortmund.

Ribéry sustained a blow to his right foot in the enthralling 3-3 extra-time draw at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, and was only moving with difficulty and a pronounced limp at the traditional post-match banquet in the team hotel afterwards. The France star will report to Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt for treatment on the squad’s return to Munich.

Kahn to take a rest?

For his part, Jansen complained of pain in the left knee following the Getafe clash and will similarly spend time with the medical unit in Munich this afternoon. In any case, Ottmar Hitzfeld is considering a number of changes to the starting eleven on Sunday, as rotation forms a central part of “a strategy for the next three matches,” the coach revealed after the final whistle in suburban Madrid.

Oliver Kahn may be one of the players rested. Following 120 punishing minutes at the Coliseo, Hitzfeld has offered the captain a break at the weekend. “He’ll take the decision as to whether he plays,“ the coach announced. “I was drained and exhausted, because the mental effort takes so much out of you,“ the keeper said after the Getafe match. Bayern are definitely without Mark van Bommel (suspended) and Hamit Altintop (metatarsal fracture) on Sunday.