BAYERN MUNICH'S JAVIER MARTINEZ RULED OUT FOR A LONG TIME

Bayern Munich coach Guardiola expressed his concern regarding the knee injury suffered by Javi Martínez during the German Super Cup match and warned that the Spanish player is facing a long absence from the pitch. 

Bayern Munich's Javier Martinez ruled out for a long time due to injury

"It will be a long absence. We will have the diagnosis tomorrow, but I think he will be out injured for a long time", the Bayern coach said.

Dortmund defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 in the German Super Cup.

For the Bavarians, the loss of Javier Martinez with suspected ligament damage in his knee naturally weighed heavier than losing their second Super Cup game in succession. "It's a cruciate ligament rupture, 99 per cent," the Spanish international declared on his Facebook page later on Wednesday night. If that diagnosis proves accurate, the 25-year-old will be out of action for at least six months.

Such a loss would be a heavy blow for Pep Guardiola and his men. Martinez, firstly, had been in very good shape in preseason, no doubt aided by the fact that he had had more time to prepare himself after Spain's early exit from the competition in Brazil.

"He was already in team training for a while; it would be bad for us [if he's out for half the season], we are already without some players," said captain Philipp Lahm, himself a second-half substitute.

Martinez will join his countryman Thiago Alcantara on the sidelines. Guardiola's supposed key signing had to deny rumours about an injury relapse after failing to get fit for the start of the season but the coach was unable to give an exact estimate for his expected return.

The 23-year-old hurt his knee at the end of March, and reports in local Munich newspapers suggested the club have been unhappy with the treatment he has received in Spain. Right-back Rafinha is also out of commission for a couple of months with an ankle injury.

Martinez's layoff could well scupper Guardiola's plan to play with three men at the back, but he'll be missed in central midfield, too. Without Thiago and Toni Kroos, who has moved to Real Madrid, there's suddenly a shortage. Lahm could slot in, but then there's no natural right-back, while Bastian Schweinsteiger will need a few more weeks before he'll return to full fitness.