Published>Mon, Mar 08 10 10:47 PM
Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery is not certain to be fit for Tuesday's Champions League last 16 second leg tie at Fiorentina, coach Louis van Gaal said on Monday.
"Ribery has a slight problem," van Gaal, whose side have a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, told a news conference without giving the nature of the injury.
"I think he can play but we'll see tomorrow."
Ribery did not start for the Bundesliga leaders against Cologne on Saturday because of the problem, coming on in the last third of the 1-1 draw.
Van Gaal said fellow midfielder Arjen Robben should be available after missing the Cologne match with flu.
The Dutchman's biggest injury problems are in defence.
Martin Demichelis is out after suffering facial fractures playing for Argentina in last week's 1-0 win over Germany.
Diego Contento cannot play either because of a cut knee, which means 17-year-old Austrian midfielder David Alaba may be used in the backline.
But van Gaal was not spooked by these problems for the clash against an off-form Serie A outfit, with his side sure of reaching the quarter-finals if they extend their 18-match unbeaten run.
"Naturally, it (the situation in defence) is a disadvantage," he said. "But in training the players play in different positions and they know them, so I'm not afraid if there are other players on the field instead of Demichelis and Contento.
"During the course of the season, I've shown faith in six young players. If they didn't have the right qualities, they wouldn't play."
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