Jerome Boateng is glad to be back in action after returning from four months out in Bayern Munich s 3-0 home victory against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
Germany international Boateng replaced Javi Martinez in the second half of Saturday s game, having recovered from a chest muscle injury, as Bayern extended their advantage at the top of the table to 10 points.
Boateng s return is timely as Bayern have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal, with the treble in their sights, but Boateng is just happy to be playing again.
Welcome back, ! (65 ) 3-0
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN)
It s always a comfortable feeling when you come into the game and the score is 3-0, Boateng told the DFB website. It s taken long enough. I hope that I can stay healthy now and help the team.
I didn t pick a specific date, but I obviously motivated myself daily by wanting to return to the pitch as fast as possible. I just want to stay healthy now and get back to my former level.
Finally! What a feeling to be back on the pitch! Thanks for the warm welcome at the Arena
— Jerome Boateng (@JB17Official)
Boateng dismissed comparisons between the current campaign and Bayern s last treble success in 2012-13, but the centre-back says there is a good atmosphere around the club following the 10-2 aggregate humiliation of Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League.
I don t care about that, Boateng said. In the end what matters is how we play, and not what happened back in 2013. Things can change very quickly, especially if you don t show up in one of the knockout games.
You have to perform on the pitch, have a good form on the day and you also need some luck. I hope that we can get into the [Champions League] final this year.
