Berlin: Bayern Munich can expect to be without veteran winger Franck Ribery for up to three months with Sky reporting on Monday he has torn a knee ligament. The 34-year-old had to be helped off in the 62nd minute of Bayern’s 2-2 draw against Hertha Berlin on Sunday which left them five points adrift of leaders Borussia Dortmund in Germany’s top flight. [caption id=“attachment_4102461” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Bayern’s Franck Ribery center is helped after he got injured during the match against Hertha. AP [/caption] Caretaker coach Willy Sagnol was in charge after Carlo Ancelotti was sacked on Thursday in the wake of the 3-0 Champions League drubbing at Paris Saint Germain. Sky reported that Ribery has torn a ligament in his left knee and will be out for between two to three months, although the club has yet to confirm. “I’m in a lot of pain and not doing so well,” said Ribery at Munich airport after the flight from Berlin. “The outside ligament is probably affected, I hope it’s not something worse.” The injury is a particular blow to the Frenchman, who is out of contract at the end of the season, and Bayern, who are already without captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer until January with a fractured foot. For the second league match running, Bayern threw away a 2-0 lead in Berlin after goals by Mats Hummels and Robert Lewandowski were cancelled out by Hertha’s Ondrej Duda and Salomon Kalou. Ex-Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel and Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann are among the favourites to succeed Ancelotti.
)