Professor Dr Roland Schmidt has been FC Bayern’s team doctor since 2012. The medical doctor talks about Joshua Kimmich’s condition after his COVID-19 illness and predicts his return to team training for the start of the second half of the season.

Mr. Schmidt, FC Bayern are almost autumn champions after their 2-1 win over FSV Mainz 05, and the team has qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League with an unblemished record. Is the mood nevertheless soured because such an important player as Joshua Kimmich has been missing for weeks?

First of all, Joshua Kimmich is doing well. We are observing a typical course of a mild COVID-19 disease in him.

Nevertheless, he cannot train at all or only to a very reduced extent at the moment, although he is no longer contagious and is considered recovered in terms of participating in team training. Why does this rest have to be?

Joshua has been in quarantine or isolation at home for four weeks. This is another reason why he is in a regenerative stress stage as far as the cardiovascular system is concerned. We are monitoring his recovery and, as with any other injured or ill player, we are adjusting the training content depending on the condition.

“These are slight changes in the lungs that are in regression “

FC Bayern and Kimmich have reported that there are infiltrations on Kimmich’s lungs. How do you have to assess this?

These are slight changes in the lungs that are in regression. However, this is not atypical in milder COVID-19 courses.

So, will Kimmich be able to return to full strength?

According to the current findings, we can assume so.

And when will he be able to return to team training?

If things continue as they are, at the start of the second half of the season.