Oliver Glasner on...
…next opponents Borussia Dortmund: “Dortmund are a very good team who had an incredible run to kick off 2023. Their performances have been more up and down recently. They’ve got a lot of quality and are strong at home, but despite all that, it’s about time we got a win again!”
…team news: “Ndicka is also out, in addition to Lindström, Smolcic and Jakic. He’s got pain in his hip and can’t train at the moment, so we can’t have him working with the team currently. Toure was involved in parts of the training sessions. We’ll have to wait and see with Almamy – that aside, there’s a place in the squad up for grabs. Gebuhr will be in the squad like he was for Gladbach, as we don’t have a lot of players available in defence.”
…Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe: “He felt something on Wednesday but trained without any problems today. He’s important for us and will certainly be there. With each match, each training session, he’s getting closer to his best form.”
…Kristijan Jakic: “He’s had persistent problems at the junction from the Achilles heel to the calf. Our medical team are doing everything they can to make sure he can play again this season.”
We’ll give everything until the last matchday to finish in the top six.
Head coach Oliver Glasner
…Christopher Lenz: “Chris Lenz is experienced, he’s a leader and he’s played for a number of years in the Bundesliga. He’ll start on the left side of central defence again”
…Mario Götze: “Mario was very successful at Dortmund and I imagine he’s looking forward to the match. He’s trained very well this week. We need to get him into more goalscoring positions again, not just as a provider but also as a goalscorer. His finishing is excellent.”
…the aims for the season: “We’re in the thick of the tussle for the European places. Now we’re playing against Dortmund, which is followed by meetings with direct rivals Mainz and Freiburg. Last weekend there were six draws and two wins by a one-goal margin. The league is incredibly close, it’s exciting everywhere. That’s exactly what we all want. We’ll give everything until the last matchday to finish in the top six.”
