"I'm hoping to reach my old level" - Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman
But for injury, Kingsley Coman might have had a FIFA World Cup winner's medal around his neck right about now.
The France winger was playing regularly for Bayern Munich last season, until suffering an ankle ligament tear in a Bundesliga match against Hertha Berlin on 24 February 2018. He returned to action in the DFB Cup final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on 19 May, but it wasn't enough to convince France coach Didier Deschamps to take him to the finals in Russia.
Now back to full fitness, Coman cannot wait for the 2018/19 campaign to get started.
"Of course, on a personal note, I'm hoping to reach the level I was playing at before my injury," he told SPORTBILD. "We're working really hard with [new coach Niko Kovac]. He's disciplined and meticulous. I think we've got a good mix of experienced and young players."
Coman, who is heading into his fourth season as a Bayern player, also admitted that winning the UEFA Champions League is his club's biggest objective in the coming season. The 15-time France international acknowledged that the competition isn't getting any easier, but that Bayern - beaten semi-finalists last term - "have no reason to fear anyone."
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The International Champions Cup should provide an useful indicator of where Bayern are currently at, in any case. The record German champions face Coman's former clubs Paris-Saint Germain (21 July) and Juventus (26 July), before taking on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City (29 July). They also have a pre-season friendly against Manchester United lined up for the 5 August.
Bayern begin their Bundesliga title defence against Hoffenheim on 24 August, but not before meeting Kovac's previous employers Frankfurt in the Supercup (12 August) and minnows SV Drochtersen/Assel in the first round of the 2018/19 DFB Cup (18 August).