Bayern Munich were anxiously awaiting a diagnosis on Jamal Musiala's injury on Saturday after the playmaker limped off with a thigh muscle problem in their 3-1 Bundesliga win at Augsburg that could rule him out for the time being.
The bad news came ahead of Tuesday's Champions League first leg quarter-final against Inter Milan. The European showcase event has added significance for Bayern because the May 31 final is in their home stadium.
Bayern have defenders Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies and Hiroki Ito out with long term injuries, and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic are yet to return from illness and injury, respectively.
Musiala's injury is now the latest setback for the Bundesliga leaders in the business end of the season.
"I'm not moaning about the situation. We have confidence in each other and will solve this with the squad. We need all the players who are available," coach Vincent Kompany said.
Midfielder Joshua Kimmich referred to the whole squad when he said: "Everyone realises now that they are needed. Everyone gets their chance and has to stay hungry and ready."
Board member for sport Max Eberl agreed that "the other players have to step into the breach.
"We're looking forward to this Champions League quarter final against Inter Milan at home. We can't change the injuries and want to focus on what's coming up and who's available.”
In better news, Eberl suggested that Pavlovic may be able to return sooner than expected from glandular fever that has sidelined him since the end of February.
"He is training again," Eberl said, referring to individual sessions. "I believe that Aleks will fully return to the squad within the next days."
But Eberl said that Pavlovic won't be rushed back to play again.
"He hasn't trained for five or six weeks. Now you don't want to get to the point where you throw him in physically straight away," Eberl said.
