Leverkusen's Baumgartlinger out until 2022, Seoane commits to Robert Andrich start
Bayer Leverkusen revealed on Tuesday that veteran defensive midfielder Julian Baumgartlinger had undergone major knee surgery on Monday.
With Charles Aranguiz also unavailable after suffering a calf injury on international duty, head-coach Gerardo Seoane guaranteed a place in the starting XI for newly-acquired midfielder Robert Andrich.
Thirty-three-year-old Julian Baumgartlinger has gone under the knife yet again. The Austrian international's Bundesliga club revealed this information on Tuesday. Another knee operation will keep the veteran sidelined until 2022.
With Charles Aranguiz also unavailable after suffering a calf injury on international duty, head-coach Gerardo Seoane guaranteed a place in the starting XI for newly-acquired midfielder Robert Andrich.
Leverkusen did not offer the same degree of detailed information about other veteran midfielder, former team captain Charles Aranguiz. It was nevertheless confirmed that the 32-year-old Chilean--after suffering a calf injury on international duty--would not be available this weekend.
One assumes that this applies to another one of the squad's sixes. Exequiel Palacios remains in South America with the Argentine national team and has a match on Thursday night.
"At the moment, there are three options for the double-six," Bayer head-coach Gerardo Seoane remarked at a Tuesday presser, "Nadiem Amiri, Kerem Demirbay, and Robert Andrich. Robert's physicality would do us good from the start."
Seoane went on to guarantee a place in the starting XI for the 26-year-old recently acquired from 1. FC Union Berlin. Andrich has made two relief appearances since making the switch.
"Robert is ready," Seoane said, "He's trained well. He's had to be a little patient because Aranguiz and Palacios did so well. But now that the English weeks [week's with two matches] are coming, there's enough playing time for everyone. I can commit to Robert being in the starting XI with a clear conscience."
Gute Besserung, Julian #Baumgartlinger! 🙏#Bayer04 kann längerfristig nicht auf Mittelfeldspieler Julian Baumgartlinger zurückgreifen...
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04fussball) September 7, 2021
➡️ https://t.co/1VswT1jbyx#Werkself pic.twitter.com/V6BagZP7ui