Foals return to training after the short Christmas break

Borussia resumed training on Wednesday following the shortened winter break. The Foals take on Arminia Bielefeld on matchday 14 of the Bundesliga on Saturday (15:30 CET).

The short winter break has come and gone already, and on Wednesday the Foals resumed training just eight days after the last competitive match of 2020. Following the scheduled coronavirus test, head coach Marco Rose led the team out for an 80-minute session on the training pitches at BORUSSIA-PARK this afternoon. “For us, it’s just the case of getting back into it after a few days off. We worked on a few things important to the way we play and that we’ve picked up on over the last few games,” said Rose. “It’s a new situation for all of us. I don’t think there’s ever been such a short winter break in the Bundesliga before. But we’re taking it as it is and dealing with it as best we can.”

The Foals play their first competitive game of 2021 on Saturday (15:30 CET) as they take on newly promoted Arminia Bielefeld on matchday 14 of the Bundesliga. Borussia have never played a match so early in the new year before. There have, however, been several competitive matches on 2nd January in VfL’s history. Among these are the 5-1 victory over Opel Rüsselsheim in the DFB-Pokal in the 1965/66 season. In 1923 and 1928, Borussia even had to play on New Year's Day.

Ramy Bensebaini and Alassane Plea were among the 22 players who took part in the session, as they made their return after Bensebaini’s positive coronavirus test and Plea’s muscle strain. “They were both allowed to make their return to training for the first time today,” reported Rose. “We’re phasing Ramy back in step by step and with Lasso, he might even be available to Saturday if he’s fully recovered.”

New signing Joseph "Joe" Scally, however, did not take part in the session. The right-back, who Borussia have signed from MLS club New York City FC in November 2019, is expected to arrive at BORUSSIA-PARK next week.