Frustrated Robben fears long spell on the sidelines
Bayern Munich midfielder Arjen Robben has said that his recovery from the thigh injury he aggravated at the World Cup is going according to plan, but that he will not play first-team football for "a while."
Robben tore his hamstring in a friendly encounter with Hungary on 5 June, after which it seemed he would not feature in the World Cup later that month.
But after feeling no pain in training, the winger went on to play five of the Dutch team's fixtures in the tournament.
Medical scans after the World Cup final showed that despite not feeling any pain, Robben had aggravated his thigh tear and would face at least two months on the sidelines. It is now feared that he will not play before Chirstmas.
"Physically, I had no problems," Robben told TZ about his fitness at the tournament, adding that he still feels no pain from the injury. "I have no pain in the thigh. It is precisely that which makes it so difficult for me."
The 26-year-old is currently in rehabilitation training, focusing on his core muscle strength as opposed to exercising his leg muscles. While Robben was unable to say how long he expected to wait for a return to football, he did say that "it will take a while."
KNVB and Bayern Munich in dispute
Because Robben featured for the Dutch national team while carrying an injury, Bayern Munich have demanded that the Dutch Football Association, the KNVB, pay the player's wages until he returns to match fitness.
The KNVB have denied its responsibility to do so, adding that the German club should have insured Robben before he travelled to South Africa.
Robben himself said he is trying his best to ignore the conflict to focus on his personal fitness. "I will not talk about it, and I do not even want to think about it. The important thing is that I rehabilitate until I'm fit and can finally play again for Bayern. Everything else does not matter."
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