Bayern head to China without Schweinsteiger, Lahm

BERLIN (AFP) –

Schweinsteiger played during Euro 2012 despite having a painful right calf

Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger applauds the crowd at the end his side’s Euro 2012 semi-final defeat to Italy in Warsaw on June 28, 2012. Bayern Munich head to China this weekend without Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm, club coach Jupp Heynckes announced on Friday.

Bayern Munich head to China this weekend without Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm, club coach Jupp Heynckes announced on Friday.

“I followed Bastian closely during the Euro. I then spoke to him twice and told him that he wasn’t going to China but he’d be doing intensive physio (in Munich) to get himself back in top form,” Heynckes said at the club’s Italian training camp.

Schweinsteiger played during Euro 2012 despite having a painful right calf, which prevented him from training for several weeks after suffering a serious ligament tear in February.

“He’s still got a problem with a tendon but the injury is over and done with,” Heynckes added.

As for Lahm, the trainer said the decision was purely because he had played every match last season.

Bayern, beaten Champions League finalists who were also pipped to the German league and cup by Dortmund last season, are due to play two friendly matches in China.

They will play Beijing Guoan in the capital on July 24 and against Wolfsburg in Canton two days later.

The Bavarian club end their pre-season sojourn on the shores of Lake Garda with a friendly against Naples on Friday evening.