Thiago: It's not been easy at Bayern Munich

The midfielder says this feels like it will be his second season, rather than his third, due to the long-term knee injury he suffered in 2014

Thiago Alcantara has bemoaned how injury has complicated his three seasons as a Bayern Munich player but says he feels "fantastic" ahead of 2015-16. 

The midfielder, 24, did not make his first appearance for Pep Guardiola's side until April in the previous campaign due to a long-term knee problem picked up 12 months earlier.


Having also missed much of the opening three months of his first season at the Allianz Arena, Thiago opened up about how problematic injuries have been, though he believes he is in peak shape once again.

"I feel fantastic to be able to join Bayern's pre-season from the start for the first time," he told the club's official website. "I've not had an easy time of it so far, the knee injury weighed on me a lot.
"I missed almost an entire season, so to me it feels like I'm only in my second season. I'm 100 per cent again now and plan to achieve a lot with this team."

Thiago, who joined from Barcelona for an initial fee of €20 million in 2013, dismissed any notion of individual goals as he claims his focus is completely on helping Bayern thrive in 2015-16.

"There isn't much time until the Supercup against Wolfsburg [on August 1]," he added. "After this pre-season tour of China, we can start working on polishing our game.

"It's not about me and my targets, I'm just a small part of this phenomenal team. I'm here to win matches and silverware with Bayern and of course our aim is to win as much as possible.

"I want to support the team as best I can. My dream would be to bring the Champions League back to Munich."