Alonso ahead of #B04BMG: ‘We know Gladbach and Gladbach know us’

We are really looking forward to being back at our stadium," said Alonso at the pre-match press conference on Friday. "We need the great backing and support of our fans. It will be a tough game."

Borussia Mönchengladbach beat VfB Stuttgart 3-1 in their first game of the year that was followed by a 2-1 defeat against FC Augsburg. "We are expecting a confident opponent," said Alonso who, in comparison to the previous meeting at the end of August last year (3-0), believes there are "a few good new players" at the Foals.

Andrich gauranteed start

For the clash with Gladbach, Alonso will have to manage without the injured Arthur, Victor Boniface and Exequiel Palacios plus the suspended Jonathan Tah . In addition, Odilon Kossounou, Edmond Tapsoba and Amine Adli are still away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Robert Andrich will definitely play – the defensive midfielder was guaranteed a start in the match against the Foals by Alonso on Friday. "Of course, I'm not going to reveal which position and in which system," said the Spaniard with a smile.

Alonso faces predecessor Seoane

The former Werkself head coach Gerardo Seoane returns to the BayArena for the first time with Borussia Mönchengladbach. Alonso: "Gerardo deserves a warm welcome, he is rightly valued here." Asked about Seoane knowing some of the Werkself players from his time at Leverkusen and Jonas Hofmann joining the Werkself coming the other way last summer, the Spaniard said: "We know Gladbach and Gladbach know us."

The Werkself will be looking to produce a good performance for the full 90 minutes in the home game against Borussia following on from the two late wins in Augsburg und Leipzig. Alonso added: "We didn't win by good luck but instead battled to the end and kept believing in ourselves. That's how we have to carry on."

"huge motivation to do a good job here"

Asked about the surprise news from England a few moments before the press conference that Jürgen Klopp is leaving Liverpool in the summer, Alonso said: "I have great respect for what Jürgen has achieved at Liverpool. He has done a brilliant job and has a fantastic connection to the fans. My focus is here at Bayer 04. I've got huge motivation to do a good job here. I'm very happy with the team and with the club."