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.
Ranos: “I’m hugely excited to feel the atmosphere here for the first time”
Grant-Leon Ranos speaks about his first impressions at the Foals, his time at the training camp and playing at BORUSSIA-PARK for the first time during Saturday’s friendly against HSC Montpellier (15:30 CEST).
Grant-Leon, you’ve been at Borussia for a few weeks now. What are your first impressions of the team and the club?
Ranos: The first weeks were very intense. I met new people every day; that was very exciting. It’s like a family here. I’ve fitted in very well with my teammates. The manager and the staff are very nice. You can feel the size of the club and also the passion from the fans. We know how important to them this club is. I’m as excited as ever to be at Borussia and be able to experience it all.
You haven’t yet missed any training sessions and you scored your first goal for Borussia at the tournament in Heimstetten against 1860 München. How do you evaluate your personal pre-season so far?
Ranos: You really learn something new in every training session. The coaching staff and my teammates help me a lot and always have a friendly ear when I have a question. Altogether the preparation has been going very well. We’ve won every friendly except for one draw. We’re getting better and better as a team and improving our chemistry.
How much could you personally use the training camp to get to know your teammates better and how much has the time on the pitch brought you closer together as a team?
Ranos: The training camp has definitely brought us closer together. The many conversations while eating together, the activities on and off the pitch and the different team-building exercises have done us a lot of good as a team and helped us all to get to know each other better.
He’s always very hands-on and likes to give us feedback. On top of that he has an easygoing manner, laughs a lot and likes to joke around with the players. Pre-season under him has been very intense and we’re making a lot of progress as a team with him as coach.
Grant-Leon Ranos
Gerardo Seoane has often been praised by your teammates for his communicative and open manner. How have you found the manager so far?
Ranos: He’s always very hands-on and likes to give us feedback. On top of that he has an easygoing manner, laughs a lot and likes to joke around with the players. Pre-season under him has been very intense and we’re making a lot of progress as a team with him as coach.
As part of our season-opening event, HSC Montpellier visit BORUSSIA-PARK on Saturday at 15:30 CEST. There you will take to the field in front of your own fans for the first time. How excited are you for the match?
Ranos: The excitement after the long preparation to finally be able to feel the atmosphere here is huge. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone who’ll be at the game on Saturday.
After the Montpellier game, there’s just six days left until you finally start the competitive season with the DFB-Pokal first-round match at TuS Bersenbrück (Friday, 11th August, 18:00 CEST). How important is it for you personally to use the final week of pre-season to try to earn yourself a place in the starting eleven?
Ranos: I’ve been trying from day one to put push hard and use every training session and every match to prove myself. I’ve tried to show what I have and in which departments I can help the team. I’ll keep doing that in the remaining days before the start of the season.
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