When Bayern kicks off the new season against Hoffenheim today, new signings like Mario Gomez will need to prove that his price tag as the Bundesliga's most expensive ever purchase was money well spent for a side missing several key players.French playmaker Franck Ribery, who was courted by Real Madrid for weeks but was not allowed to leave, has returned to training after his knee injury but his participation in Bayern's season opener is doubtful. "I do not know [if he will be in the squad] but what I know is he will not be starting the match," Dutch coach Louis van Gaal, brought in after a hapless season under ex-coach Juergen Klinsmann, said on Wednesday.
"The season is starting but Franck essentially started training this morning," van Gaal told the club Web site www.fcbayern.de. "It will be difficult to integrate him into the team." His replacement today is expected to be 19-year-old Thomas Mueller, who has caught the eye with some outstanding performances in a series of pre-season friendlies. Croatian striker Ivica Olic is definitely out and Italian Luca Toni remains a doubt with a heel injury, giving Gomez a perfect opportunity to show off why Bayern paid VfB Stuttgart more than 30 million euros for his services.
