Foals continue winter preparation, trio return

Yann Sommer, Ko Itakura and Nico Elvedi, who all took part in the World Cup, have returned to BORUSSIA PARK. While the two outfield players took part in medical testing, the remaining Foals continued their winter preparations after a short break for Christmas.

The players were given four days off over the festive period to rest up a little. This Tuesday afternoon, they took part in a roughly 90 minute-long session to resume their winter preparations. Christoph Kramer, Hannes Wolf and Rocco Reitz, who have all recently be ill, were able to return to team training again. Lars Stindl and Torben Müsel, however, were still absent due to illness. “Lars has unfortunately picked up another infection so will need a bit more time out. We are hoping that he will come back in the near future. Torben has got a bad cold, so he also has to take a step back for the moment,” said head coach Daniel Farke.

Yann Sommer, Nico Elvedi and Ko Itakura all returned to BORUSSIA PARK today. All three had reached the last 16 with their international teams in the recent World Cup and as a result were given an extended break. Sommer was back on the pitch today and took part in team training. “I had a couple of quiet days with the family in Switzerland, was able to process the World Cup and am pleased that we are now getting going again,” said Borussia’s number one. “With regards to my contract situation and my future, there were already open conversations with the club before the World Cup. We will resume these in the coming days as agreed.”

"Glad to be back"

For Elvedi and Itakura, there were performance tests on their return today. Like Jonas Hofmann and Joe Scally, who both returned to Mönchengladbach last midweek after their World Cup participation, they both took part in lactate tests. Despite being knocked out in the last 16, Elvedi looked back positively on the tournament: “It was my first World Cup and all in all a good experience. It was just a shame that our journey was brought to an end already by the last 16,” said the central defender, who will be back on to the training pitch tomorrow, as will Itakura. “I’ve now had almost three weeks off, which is enough. I am now glad to be back and be able to play football again,” said Elvedi.

Itakura and the Japan national team knocked Germany out in the group stage but were then knocked out themselves in the last 16 on penalties to Croatia, who went on to finish third. The centre-back made his comeback from a near two-month long injury at the tournament. He played the full 90 minutes in all three group stages before missing out on the Croatia game through suspension, having picked up two yellow cards. “It was a brilliant experience for me to play at the World Cup. My knee coped well with the strain. Now, I am just pleased to be back preparing with Borussia and to attack the second half of the season afresh,” said Itakura.

Foals to have four training sessions

Farke’s men will be on the training pitch four times this week, on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 11:15 CET, as well as Thursday at 15:00 CET. As well as this, the Foals will be training in private at the Performance Centre on Tuesday and Thursday from 15:45 CET. On New Year Day (Sunday), all the players will then enjoy a day off.