Görlitz rates return as 'simply fantastic'

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1328 votes: 2

25.09.2006

Sunday was a glorious day in Munich with temperatures around 25 degrees and the sky a deep shade of blue. Thousands took to the city's parks and beer gardens, and thousands more partied at the Oktoberfest.

Meanwhile, at the venerable Grünwald stadium, a couple of hundred die-hard fans ignored all of this and watched the Bayern reserves take on their Karlsruhe counterparts. They witnessed a comeback by a man whose injury misfortune has lasted so long, he had almost vanished from the general public gaze. That man is Andreas Görlitz.

Long injury woe

The likeable right-back last appeared competitively for Bayern more than a year ago. The player capped twice by Germany turned out for the reserves against Stuttgart Kickers on 11 September 2005 - but a new ankle injury meant his name returned immediately to the sick list.

Last winter, he suffered a reaction to the torn cruciate ligament which kicked off his long tale of injury and surgical woe back in November 2004, but at long last, Görlitz' frustration and suffering appears set to end. "It was just fantastic to be playing again," the 24-year-old declared following his run-out with the reserves.

More than planned

The third division south is a long way from the Champions League, but for Görlitz that was "totally irrelevant. What mattered was coming through the match in good shape." First team assistant coach Seppo Eichkorn was present and came to the same conclusion. "It's looking really good. He's moving totally normally and tackled well," Eichkorn commented at half time, wondering aloud "how long he can last."

In fact, the comeback continued for precisely 79 minutes, despite an original plan for a rather shorter outing. "At half-time, I told the coach I'd manage another 10 minutes. They wanted to bring me off at that point, but I told them I was enjoying it so much I'd stay out a bit longer," Görlitz smiled. Coach Hermann Gerland was suitably impressed: "He did very well given he's been out for so long, and he put in a couple of great crosses."

Back with senior squad soon

The player himself was generally pleased, and especially happy with his tackling. "I'm sure I shied away a little in a couple of situations, when you saw it could be a hard one. But basically I'm confident enough to get stuck in," he beamed. "I'm totally satisfied today."

Suddenly, wearisome months in the weights room and on rehab programmes were forgotten. "It was simply fantastic. Long may it continue." 'Andi' is now hoping to rejoin the first team programme in just a few days, "and then we'll see how it goes."

MUTU

Terrific news Smile

I'm overjoyed at the fact that he's back. And I'm sure that with a slice of good luck he can work his way back in the team AND the national team.

MUTU

Yesterday he played another 61 minutes against PK Pirmasens with the reserve team Smile