Franck Ribery Return Cannot Come Soon Enough for Bayern Munich and Pep Guardiola

Franck Ribery is set to return to Bundesliga action this weekend as his Bayern Munich side welcome old rivals VfB Stuttgart to the Allianz Arena on Saturday. 

Although the established winger has been slightly distracted by bizarre claims from Michel Platini of late, suggesting that the Frenchman could face domestic sanctions for retiring from his national team this summer, according to German outlet Bild (h/t PA Sport, via ESPN FC), Ribery will be relishing the opportunity to get back onto the pitch and begin winning games for Bayern once again. 

During the international break, Ribery worked on individual training regimes at Bayern to make up for lost time. 

“I feel good and I'm fit for Saturday,” was the midfielder's claim on Tuesday on the club's official website. “Now I need to get into a rhythm.”

Sascha Schuermann/Associated Press

The attacking midfielder had a rather frustrating season last year, with injury ruling him out of 12 of his club's 34 Bundesliga matches, but after a summer of rehabilitation, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola will be hopeful that the old, match-defining Ribery is back and ready to go.

In a squad the size of Bayern's, it would seem a little dramatic to suggest that any one player is so desperately needed above all others, but if there is one individual that Guardiola knows can change his fortunes in any given competition, it is Ribery. 

As so much more than just a winger, this Frenchman acts as a pivot in the Bayern attack, offering goals and assists in equal measure whenever he is at his absolute best. 

Like Arjen Robben on the right, Ribery leads his line with the maturity and the authority of a seasoned captain, allowing younger, less established talents such as Mario Gotze to thrive in games he'd otherwise tend to shy away from. 

Guardiola has tended to stick with new signing Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller as the two sole forwards in this season's new formation. Yet without the likes of Ribery or Robben in support, this has tended to be a rather unsuccessful and somewhat unrewarding effort. 

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

As we saw against Schalke in Gelsenkirchen in the last league matchday, Bayern pushed their hosts hard for the opening period of the game, grabbing a goal within the opening 10 minutes, but they were eventually overcome by a determined Royal Blues side. 

Such a scenario almost came to fruition in the opening game of the season against Wolfsburg, too, when Bayern once again went ahead early in the game only to concede and almost lose their victory entirely if not for some poor finishing on their visitors' behalf. 

This is because the Bavarian side simply cannot finish off games like they used to. Where Bayern would pound Bundesliga opponents into submission in previous campaigns, this side look featherweight and ready to call it a day once they grab the leading goal. 

Such inexperience and naivety is obviously a trait that has festered within a squad that has had to do without the seasoned talents that won last season's championship. Bastian Schweinsteiger isn't commanding this midfield, and Ribery isn't leading this attack. 

If Bayern hope to get back to winning ways in Germany and across Europe, Guardiola will have to rely upon the old stars that have already won this club so much silverware. There is plenty of young, exciting talent within this squad, but it has already shown that it can only go so far without the experienced head of players like Ribery. 

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