Alonso ahead of Borussia game: Best use of winter break

"The team now wants and needs competitive action," declared Xabi Alonso at the pre-match press conference on Friday morning. Like all the Bundesliga teams, the Werkself played their last league match in the middle of November (2-0 against VfB Stuttgart) with the 2022 World Cup in December and January bringing numerous training sessions plus four friendlies. "We made best use of the weeks, spent a lot of time together and worked on different things," explained Alonso. "Now we are ready for Sunday!" Lukas Hradecky and Co. will have the support of more than 2,700 Werkself fans in the away section at Borussia Park. Tickets are available on the day of the game two hours before kick-off at 15.30 CET with a number of seats available for the away section.

The team led by coach Xabi Alonso face an intensive start to the Bundesliga campaign in 2023: The clash in Mönchengladbach is followed by the game against VfL Bochum at the BayArena on Wednesday and the Werkself then entertain Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.

new Borussia goalkeeper

Borussia Mönchengladbach yesterday announced the departure of their long-standing number one Yann Sommer. The 34-year-old Switzerland keeper has signed for Bayern Munich. The team under head coach Daniel Farke have brought in another Swiss keeper in Jonas Omlin. The 29-year-old fellow countrymen of Sommer's has been signed from the top-flight French club Montpellier. "Yann Sommer is a very good keeper and played an important role in the team from Mönchengladbach," said Alonso. The Spaniard added: "We don't know what effect the move will have."

Duo absent– Mbamba possible  for squad

Good news for all Black and Red supporters is the fact a number of injured Bayer 04 players were able to use the winter break to recover. The only certain absences are Charles Aránguiz and Patrik Schick although they are on the right track and are now back on the training ground as Xabi Alonso explained on Friday.

All of the other Werkself players are available for the matchday squad as it stands – including winter signing Noah Mbamba. The 18-year-old defensive midfielder was signed from top Belgian club Club Brugge a week ago. "We still have two training sessions before Sunday and nearly all the players are fit. It won't be easy to decide which players travel," said Alonso in explaining the current situation. The head coach found words of praise for new signing Mbamba: "He's only 18 years old but already has a big personality and good charisma. We are happy to have him here with us."

Alonso: "we need everybody"

The focus of the members of the media in person and online on Friday included Florian Wirtz. The last competitive appearance for the 19-year-old was ten months ago in March of last year when Wirtz suffered a torn cruciate in the game against FC Köln. "Flo has made good progress again in recent weeks and he played for almost 90 minutes in the last friendly (1-0 against FC Copenhagen, ed). He's ready," said Alonso who ascribes "very special qualities" to the versatile forward "with the ability to connect the midfield to the strikers."

At the same time, the Bayer 04 head coach stressed that the Werkself number 27 can only be successful together with his teammates: "The team must grow as a group. If that happens then Flo will automatically improve. We need everybody in our squad."

Alonso on Völler: "big personality"

As announced by Bayer 04 on Friday morning, Rudi Völler is immediately stepping back from his activities with the Werkself as a member of the shareholders committee due to his commitment to the German Football Association (DFB). The 62-year-old will also relinquish his role as club ambassador until the end of his work for the DFB. Xabi Alonso congratulated Völler saying: "Rudi is a big personality in German football. He's very intelligent and will hopefully do a good job for the DFB and the Germany team. We will wait for him to come back."