Welcome back, Stefan Lainer!

Stefan Lainer has successfully completed the therapy for lymphoma that he has been undertaking over the past few months. After the standard fitness tests yesterday (Monday), the 31-year-old returned to team training for the first time on Tuesday.

When Stefan Lainer joined the team on the training pitch this Tuesday morning, he was grinning from ear to ear. The right-back, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in July, has successfully completed the therapy that he has been undertaking over the past few months. The illness could be cured. Now, the 31-year-old will be partially integrated step-by-step into team training from this week onwards. He took the first of these steps today.

Head coach Gerardo Seoane directed a few words at the whole team on the pitch and wished Lainer a heartfelt welcome back. The right-back then himself spoke to the group, and was met with thunderous applause. “We’re all very happy that Stevie’s back,” said vice-captain Julian Weigl afterwards. “You can see how much he’s missed it. Everyone knows how much of a fighter Stevie is. He’s incredibly important to the team, even just as a person.”