Ballack praised Bayern's support for Musiala in an interview and hopes the public will return to normal assessment of the German star.

Ahead of Bayern's Champions League match against Bodø/Glimt, Ballack said: "It's very positive that Bayern handled this situation and supported him. This is very important for Musiala and will give him confidence. It's difficult for outsiders to assess, and especially for him to assess himself, so it's important to have a partner by his side."

Ballack added that Bayern's support has helped Musiala ease the pressure and fear.

Musiala experienced seizures during two pre-season friendlies, related to a neurological disorder. He later publicly revealed the diagnosis through a statement. On Thursday, the 23-year-old made his first league start of the season.

Regarding the serious ankle injury Musiala suffered at the Club World Cup last year, Ballack said: "From a competitive standpoint, he's still some way off his pre-injury form. I hope everything will return to normal."

Ballack said: "The more normal things become, the more he can be criticized. This is what he has to face, and he can't always be protected because of a special situation."

Ballack also said: "Despite the serious injury, he's a professional footballer and must learn to cope. This is high-level competition. I hope he can find his way and regain stability, and I also hope that Bayern and he will both be happy in the future. Most importantly, he needs to prove himself on the pitch."

Bayern manager Kompany said Musiala's return to the starting lineup is based on performance: "For me, everything now is about performance. Musiala deserved this appearance; he has trained very well."

Ballack also believes everything should be based on performance: "He has his own experience and is a special player, and his salary is also very high. Considering all factors off the pitch, these must also be taken into account. Ultimately, it's about performance, and he has to compete like everyone else." Ballack is also an advisor to Bayern's young player Lennart Karl.

Ballack believes Musiala won't receive special treatment: "He has to earn it through his performances. I hope he can maintain his form, because he's a top player. Once he's stable, he can regain his form. But we've seen since January that this isn't easy."

Website AF đã ra mắt! Xem tin tức đầy đủ, bình luận, chi tiết trận đấu và thống kê trên máy tính. Truy cập: www.allfootballapp.com