It was a training session par excellence for Frank Ribéry: Passes and tricks in confined spaces and lots of shots on goal. Following his recovery from a thigh injury, the France international returned to full training last Thursday and he gave his all in the Tuesday session. "The injury wasn't that bad," he said in an interview with FC Bayern.tv, "it's great to be back with the team. I can do everything again."

Ribéry has had to watch eight games from the sidelines in the past four weeks due to injury. Before that, the 33 year-old was a key player for FCB. In eight competitive matches from the start of the season he was involved in nine goals (two goals, seven assists). "I was on top of my game before the injury," he said. One reason for that could be he completed the whole pre-season for the first time in eighteen months when he was plagued by injury.

Ribéry hopes he can help his team in the match against Borussia Dortmund immediately after the international break. "It'll be a very important game for us," he said. In his tenth season at FC Bayern, Ribéry is giving one hundred percent in training. He can do no less: "I'm like a kid on the pitch, I always want to play."