At the press conference ahead of the Foals’ Bundesliga game at SV Darmstadt on Sunday (17:30 CEST), head coach Gerardo Seoane answered journalists’ questions. Here are his most important quotes:
...on Jonas Omlin’s injury: “Jonas had a shoulder operation on Monday and it went well. He'll complete the first part of his recovery in Switzerland and the second with us here in Mönchengladbach. It’s hard to give a timescale for his recovery, but it's safe to say three or four months out. It's hard to see him featuring again this year.”
...Luca Netz’s condition: “Luca was completely out for two weeks with muscle problems. It was important to include him in team training this week and increase his workload. Health-wise, there’s no reason he can’t play on Sunday, but the amount of time he’ll play is still undecided.”
...the return of Manu Koné and Christoph Kramer: “Both players have been partially included in team training this week. They’re on a good path, but they still need a good week in full training to become available for the squad again.”
...other possible absences: “Tomáš Čvančara picked up a knock in the first game with his national team and came back with a slight ankle issue. Today, he's been able to train fully. If the final training session goes well, he'll be available. Jan Olschowsky has had a cold all week. If all goes well, he'll be able to do individual training this afternoon. He’s still a doubt for the weekend.”
...the team’s potential to improve: “We have to be more dangerous with the ball and cause the opponents more problems. It’s also vital to stop doing certain things defensively as we’ve made a lot of similar errors for the goals we’ve conceded in the last few games. In Darmstadt, it’ll come down to our willingness to fight and run, but we try to do that every game anyway.”
...the task ahead: “We know what to expect in Darmstadt. This team have been very solid since promotion, play very physically and give everything. That’ll be the biggest challenge. The psychological factor, which you sometimes need to win, will definitely be a part of it. The basics of getting points are always the effort and performance.”
...Darmstadt’s strengths: “The opponents’ strengths always have an effect on our style of play, but not necessarily on our system. Darmstadt have a target man in their ranks, who they’re always looking for with long balls to beat the opponent’s press. They’re also always dangerous on the counterattack with their quick players.”
...replacing the leadership of injured captain Jonas Omlin: “We have players who can step up in the dressing room as well as on the pitch in his absence. There are enough players in the team council alone, with Julian Weigl, Florian Neuhaus, Ko Itakura, Alassane Plea, Christoph Kramer and Tony Jantschke who can fill his role.”
...the plans for Nico Elvedi: “We’re in conversations at the moment. If Nico clearly commits to Borussia, all possibilities are open to him. Until then, he’s a member of the squad, but he’s not treated the same as a player who’s clearly committed to Borussia.”
