Saturday, January 01, 2022
Five positive tests at Bayern
Manuel Neuer infected with Corona after vacation
Four Bayern stars bring Corona with them from the winter break. Among them is the captain Manuel Neuer, who used the time between the years to visit the Maldives. In addition to him, there are three other players and assistant coach Toppmöller. The start of training is postponed.
Corona and no end. The new year begins with bad news for the German record champions FC Bayern Munich. The league leader in the Bundesliga reported the day before the originally planned start of training on January 2nd, five positive corona tests. Due to the changed pandemic situation and the adapted test and hygiene concept, Bavaria has now moved this to January 3rd.
Even before the PCR tests planned for the morning of next Monday for all players, coaches and staff members, Bayern had to report new corona cases. After their Christmas vacation, national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, winger Kingsley Coman, midfielder Corentin Tolisso, full-back Omar Richards and assistant coach Dino Toppmöller tested positive for the corona virus.
All affected persons are in domestic isolation. They are doing well, the club said in a short statement, in which the vacation spots of some players were also specified. Keeper Neuer spent his Christmas vacation in the Maldives, Coman vacationed in the footballer’s winter paradise of Dubai and Tolisso in his native France. “I will be in quarantine for the next few days because I have tested positive for Corona. Thank you for all your recovery wishes! I’m doing pretty well so far, luckily I only have mild symptoms,” wrote Neuer on Instagram and added: “Take care up and stay healthy! “
The Bavarians suspected it
Last Thursday, Bavaria had already announced new corona rules on Säbener Straße due to the appearance of the Omikron variant. As the association announced, these concern, for example, “observing distance rules, wearing masks or reducing contact in the vicinity of training units and games”. In addition, “booster vaccinations in particular were carried out during the winter break as a central measure to protect against corona infections or the severe course of a corona infection”.
Team doctor and Bayern cardiologist Roland Schmidt said: “All players, coaches and staff members for whom this was already possible received the booster vaccination. The rest of them have recovered status or are vaccinated.” The Munich team start their preparation for the second half of the season on Sunday. After the short winter break, the German soccer record champions will be relaunching the Bundesliga against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Allianz Arena on January 7th.
There was a lot of excitement about unvaccinated stars in Munich last year. The focus was on the unvaccinated national player Joshua Kimmich, who had to pause for a few weeks after his corona infection. In the months before, a number of other professionals and coach Julian Nagelsmann had tested positive at Bayern.