#2 Willy Sagnol ~ Set for retirement? - Page 3 - TalkSoccer

**Trim** · 12-10-2007, 05:12 PM

Fitness coach Zvonko Komes opted to push Willy Sagnol to the limit on Friday morning. The right-back spent 90 punishing minutes testing his strength and stamina against a variety of obstacles, including low hurdles and the dreaded elastic ropes, before rounding off his personal training session with a series of sprints. The hard work is about to pay off for the crowd favourite as he nears a comeback from a six-month lay-off following knee surgery.

“I’ll be training with the team tomorrow, and I’m delighted about it. It’s been a very long time,” Sagnol told sports TV station DSF on Friday. The player was not yet ready for the full squad programme, coach Ottmar Hitzfeld explained, “but he’ll be able to take part in skills training.”

Long spell on sidelines

Even that represents a giant stride forward for Sagnol, who has spent months on his own in a tailored rehab programme. Expected to be missing for four months after damaging the meniscus and cartilage in his right knee in a Champions League trip to AC Milan last April, the France star has already been out of action for six months.

The original injury has now fully cleared, the player reported. “I’m feeling great, and I’ve been really going for it on the training ground for ten days. I’m working off a solid basis now,” the 30-year-old revealed. “He’s deep into a recovery programme,“ Hitzfeld confirmed, “we’re already pushing him very hard in terms of stamina and running.”

Patience a virtue

No deadline has been set for Willy to make a return to match action. “He still has some way to go,“ Hitzfeld commented on Wednesday. “We can’t name a point in time when he’ll be playing again,“ the coach reiterated on Friday.

Sagnol himself insisted he would not attempt a return until he was 100% fit: “It could still be two, three or even four weeks.“ After half a year away from the game, the Frenchman can afford to be both patient and optimistic: “I’ll be back soon,” he declared.

**Vargas_4** · 12-10-2007, 05:18 PM

Great to hear that he'll be back soon

**Trim** · 12-10-2007, 05:22 PM

I miss him.. I miss his quality in our starting line-up.

Even though it may not be noticed a lot.

He'll definately start when he's 100% fit.

**Vargas_4** · 28-10-2007, 08:01 PM

Bayern Munich's Willy Sagnol is reportedly a £4.5million target for English Premier League champions and new table toppers Manchester United.

Manchester United manger Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly keeping a close eye on Bayern Munich's French right-back Willy Sagnol and could make a move for the player in the January transfer window.

Ferguson is said to rate Sagnol highly - and United need cover in that position.

The 30-year-old is close o a return to fitness following four months out with a leg injury.

He could be available for Champions League duty - an important consideration for United - as he has not played in Europe with Bayern so far this season.

Goal.com - Transfer Zone - Manchester United Targeting Sagnol - Report

**Trim** · 30-10-2007, 06:46 PM

Interesting this..

I think he may leave, but definately not in January.

Hitzfeld will introduce him back to the team.
He'll test Sangol's form and so.

He's a top class RB. I hope he's still the same.
Hope the injury didn't have a big effect.

If he shows poor form, he may not gain his starting place back.

And, that could lead to the transfer.

We'll see. It's early to tell now.

B@v@r3zU · 31-10-2007, 12:08 PM

no way .. he's not for sale...I hope he will stay at Bayern...I rate him very highly...for me is the best rwb in the world

O:-)

Ylli_Bayern · 01-11-2007, 11:30 AM

Willy is the best right back (defender), every team would like to have him on the scuad, i hope we will not do a stupid thing and let him go, we need him on that position......

Ylli_Bayern · 02-11-2007, 09:21 PM

Bayern München defender Willy Sagnol had something to say.

On Friday (November 2), the Frenchman held an unscheduled press conference. Not -- as he has done before -- to read journalists the riot act, but to bring them glad tidings.

"I'll be back on the pitch soon", he said. "I'm really happy".

It's been a long wait for Willy Sagnol. He injured the meniscus and cartilage in his right knee in a 2:2 April 3 Champions League game at AC Milan. He was expected to miss four months, but that has turned into seven.

Tough Times

"These seven months haven't been easy", he said. In August and September, it was in doubt whether he would ever play football again.

"I still had pain in my knee. But now everything's fine", he said, thanking FC Bayern's medical staff and Dr. Philippe Boixel, the French national team's osteopath. "It's thanks to them that I can play football again".

Robinho4Ever · 02-11-2007, 09:27 PM

Sangol is a great RB (of course, he's French

) . . .

I don't think that Bayern will let him go easily !!

**Trim** · 03-11-2007, 07:45 AM

He's one of the club leaders.
And the first vice captain.

Been at the club for a long time.
Knows the things around best.

He might be 30, but trust me he shouldn't have problem regaining his starting place.

He's still the top quality RB, unless the injury had some bad effect.

I'm sure Bayern won't accept the offer on Sagnol.
Sagnol himself wouldn't like to move to Man United either.

I think he is set to end the career at Bayern.

BlackNess · 16-11-2007, 10:21 AM

waiting to hear he is fine .... we really need him when Jansen are out for four weeks .

**Trim** · 16-11-2007, 10:25 AM

Sagnol may be called to the matchday squad for the Wolfsburg match.

He played for the reserves last weekend.

**Vargas_4** · 16-11-2007, 05:58 PM

Awesome to hear

Ylli_Bayern · 17-11-2007, 04:51 PM

Great News...i'm pleased to have him back

**Trim** · 17-11-2007, 05:53 PM

Friday's 1-1 draw between Bayern II and Wacker Burghausen was less than both third division sides had wanted, but Willy Sagnol was perfectly happy afterwards. The right-back completed a 90-minute run-out for the first time since knee surgery last spring, thus taking a giant stride towards returning for the seniors.

"It was a very useful test," observed Michael Henke, who watched the game at the Grünwald stadium in Munich, "it was very sensible for Willy to take part." Sagnol managed 69 minutes last week against bottom club Oggersheim, but against Burghausen, rated by Henke as "a genuinely good third division team," the France star faced different calibre opposition. "It's only any good on the way back to the Bundesliga if you're properly stretched," Henke opined.

A good sign

Sagnol was equally satisfied after the match. The whole team had trouble finding a rhythm in the first half, he reported. "But I felt a lot better about it in the second half. I've completed 90 minutes but I'm not tired, and that's a good sign.“ The most important observation of all was health-related: "'The knee held up."

Henke personally reviewed the match with Sagnol on Saturday morning. "He hasn't had any reaction from the knee," the assistant boss confirmed. Sagnol thus continues to close in on a comeback for the first team, and with the loss of Marcell Jansen until Christmas after surgery, the Frenchman could yet make a first squad appearance in seven months against Wolfsburg at the weekend. "It's a possibility," Henke remarked.

Time until Christmas

The assistant coach warned that the player still had some way to go, as he needed to recover full fitness before re-entering the top flight fray. "We have a responsibility to ensure he doesn't injure himself again.“ Sagnol himself is in no hurry. "I've not set myself any more targets before Christmas.“