Bayern's Sammer out with blood circulation problem in brain

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer was unable to sit on the club's bench for its last two games due to a blood circulation problem in his brain.

Sammer had a "tiny circulatory disorder of the brain that will heal completely and without consequence," club doctor Roland Schmidt was quoted as saying in a club statement on Sunday.

Bayern said Sammer is well again after missing Saturday's league win at Hertha Berlin and the previous Tuesday's German Cup win at home over Werder Bremen.

"There are no restrictions for me and the doctors have assured (me) that I will recover completely," Sammer was quoted as saying on Sunday evening. "But I will take the necessary time to convalesce so I can be fully there for the team and Bayern again."

There was no indication given of when Sammer would return, with Bayern heading into the decisive phase of the campaign. Bayern, which needs one more win to clinch its fourth successive Bundesliga title, travels to Atletico Madrid for the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Wednesday. It also has a German Cup final against Borussia Dortmund in Berlin on May 21.

"The most important thing now is that Matthias Sammer is fully recovered," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. "Matthias knows that we will give him all the time he needs to get his old strength back to carry out his duties at Bayern."

Sammer, a former Germany international during his playing career, has been in his position since July 1, 2012. The former sporting director of the German football federation has a contract with Bayern to 2018.