Jonas Kersken to leave Borussia on permanent basis
Goalkeeper Jonas Kersken has agreed terms on a permanent transfer to Arminia Bielefeld, where he has spent the 2023/24 season on loan.
As we look back on 2023, we take a closer look at the months of July and August. There were lots of changes in personnel, in addition to the new head coach Gerardo Seoane. The Foals also celebrated a tenth anniversary of preseason preparations held at Tegernsee.
ON THE PITCH
In the first friendly under new head coach Gerardo Seoane, the Foals drew 1-1 with Wegberg-Beeck, but Gladbach beat 1. FC Saarbrücken 2-1 in their second preseason friendly on the way to their training camp in Rottach-Egern. After more successful friendlies against FC Ingolstadt (2-1 win), 1860 München (2-1 win), VfB Stuttgart (5-1 win) and HSC Montpellier (2-2 draw), the Foals convincingly won their first competitive game of the season against fifth-tier side TuS Bersenbrück 7-0 in the DFB-Pokal. Borussia kicked off their Bundesliga season with a spectacular 4-4 draw away to FC Augsburg, before losing 3-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen.
STANDOUT MOMENT
It was the tenth time that the Foals undertook their preseason preparations in Rottach-Egern. In honour of this anniversary, the main entrance to the Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt was adorned by a banner with the words: "10 years at Lake Tegernsee - Training Camp 2023". There's good reason why the Foals have done their preseason training camps in Rottach-Egern every year since 2012 (excluding 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic). "The conditions here are always perfect," said Roland Virkus, Borussia's managing director for sport. "That goes for both FC Rottach-Egern's pitch and for the Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt."
OFF THE PITCH
QUOTE
Julian Weigl: "It was a demanding, but good preseason. We worked hard in training and we wantto demonstrate that on the pitch. We've known for a long time that there would be some bigchanges at the club. We've lost some quality players, but those in charge have done well to signboth young, hungry lads and more experienced players. That's why there's a good balance in theteam. We're on the right path."