Arjen Robben to miss Ajax-Bayern Munich clash in Amsterdam

Bad news if you’re a fan of Bayern Munich — it looks like Arjen Robben is certain to miss the club’s upcoming Champions League game against Ajax. In a squad list released by the club, the Dutchman was conspicuous in his absence on the list of names headed to Amsterdam. Here is the tweet from the official FC Bayern twitter account:

It seems that Robben is being kept out by an as-yet undefined thigh injury. The winger has been battling this particular problem for two weeks now, having missed out on Bayern’s Bundesliga games against Werder Bremen and Nurnberg because of it. It’s perplexing how a seemingly innocuous injury has kept him out for so long. Let’s hope that it’s not as serious as it looks.

Robben’s absence will be a big blow to Niko Kovac, who will be looking for a win on the night to seal top spot in the group. Just before his injury, Robben seemed to have rediscovered his former self, scoring two spectacular goals against Benfica. It will be a bitter pill for Robben to swallow, as the injury means that he will be deprived of the chance to play in front of his countrymen in the Champions League.

Luckily for Bayern, Kingsley Coman returned to full team training a week ago and should be ready for selection, along with Serge Gnabry and Franck Ribery who are both fit and ready to go. In addition, while he may not be able to play, Bayern’s latest signing will be joining the team as moral support:

With the options that are available, there is no excuse for the club to not take the game to Ajax. If Niko Kovac wants to prove that his team has turned a corner, then he knows what he has to do.