DFB.de regularly focuses on a Germany international who is likely to have a special weekend. This week there are two: Marco Reus and Ilkay Gündogan are on the verge of making their comebacks for Borussia Dortmund – maybe even this Saturday (15:30 CEST) against 1. FC Köln.
The anticipation is great. No, make that huge. Having spent over a year on the sidelines Ilkay Gündogan is close to making his return. “I think that I’m ready to be involved in the squad again and I hope to be on duty in Köln” said the Germany international last weekend. On Thursday Jürgen Klopp announced his squad for Saturday’s trip to Köln. For the first time in 430 the days Ilkay Gündogan’s name was included.
Klopp: "Ilkay’s 14 month lay-off is nearly at an end"
Klopp has yet to decide whether the midfielder will be in the starting line-up or just take a place on the bench. “I’ll let Ilkay know personally exactly what I expect from him” said the coach. One thing is for sure: Klopp and the Borussia players are looking forward to the midfielder’s return, with the head coach already declaring it as a public holiday in the city – the chance to see the hugely talented midfielder once again is something everyone connected with BVB can’t wait for. The wait is nearly over.
"I’m certain that all recently injured players want to return as soon as possible” said Klopp. “Ilkay’s 14 month lay-off is nearly at an end. He has plenty of energy and is ready to return instantly, but we’ll need to manage him well.” The same goes for fellow Germany internationals Marco Reus and Sven Bender, the Armenian International Henrikh Mkhitaryan and former Germany player Sebastian Kehl; all of whom have recently returned from injury and are included in the squad for the came in Köln.
Gündogan – Long road to fitness
Ilkay Gündogan put on a BVB shirt on for the first time in over a year on Friday. In a U23 friendly against VfL Bochum II he played 45 minutes and scored a goal. He was calm on the ball and performed well. “After a long, long time I was finally able to play 45 minutes again” posted the 23 year old on Facebook that evening. “Even though it was only a friendly, it was still great feeling.”
It was Gündogan’s first appearance on a football pitch since Germany’s friendly against Paraguay in August 2013. He suffered a severe back injury in the match which ruled him out of the entire Bundesliga season as well as the World Cup in Brazil. The Germany international would watch BVB’s games from the press box. During his long road to fitness he travelled the world to meet with experts in the hope of hearing good news. After a few false dawns, the midfielder finally went under the knife in June and has recovered quickly.
“He looked comfortable” said BVB Sporting Director Michael Zorc after the Bochum game, but added: “We shouldn’t forget that this was only his first game.” The second followed on Tuesday. Whilst the Germany senior squad drew 1-1 with Ireland, Gündogan played in a friendly against Viktoria Köln. This game also saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Sebastian Kehl return to action.
Reus "is ready to play again"
Marco Reus is also ready to pull on a black and yellow shirt once again. The attacker, who picked up an ankle injury in Germany’s international against Scotland last month, took to the field alongside Gündogan in the friendly against Bochum II. “Marco looked good last week” explained Michael Zorc. “He is fit against and ready to play.”
Jürgen Klopp still has time to decide on his team for the weekend. Ilkay Gündogan will need more time to return to top form than Reus, Mkhitaryan, Kehl and Bender. Klopp has already announced that just because the “big name players” are back doesn’t mean that form will improve instantly.
Fans don’t want Gündogan and Co. to be rushed back
BVB fans have realistic expectations in regards to the recuperation of the injured stars. 62% of supporters who voted in an online poll for the Ruhr Nachrichten newspaper said that they wanted Gündogan and Reus to be eased back into action.
Both players would offer something to the team, as would the return to fitness of other players. Kevin Großkreutz and Neven Subotic sat out their respective internationals this month in order to get back to full fitness in Dortmund. Shinji Kagawa picked up a head injury in the game against Jamaica. He returned to Dortmund instead of facing Brazil and should be fit for the game against Köln.
BVB: Seven competitive games in 23 days
The Bundesliga is back. Before the international break BVB hoped to have all of their stars back for this weekend’s game. Most are, but some still need time - Marcel Schmelzer, Oliver Kirch, Nuri Sahin and Jakub Blaszczykowski are still missing. After the 1-0 defeat to Hamburg Klopp said: "This is a low point but also a new starting point."
There are plenty of opportunities to make amends in the coming weeks. Borussia Dortmund face seven matches in the next 23 days across three competitions: they travel to Köln, face Galatasaray home and away in the Champions League, have a DFB Cup match away to St Pauli before facing Bayern München and Borussia Mönchengladbach. The potential to get the season back on track is there. The need to improve on their current record of seven points from seven games is huge.
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DFB.de regularly focuses on a Germany international who is likely to have a special weekend. This week there are two: Marco Reus and Ilkay Gündogan are on the verge of making their comebacks for Borussia Dortmund – maybe even this Saturday (15:30 CEST) against 1. FC Köln.
The anticipation is great. No, make that huge. Having spent over a year on the sidelines Ilkay Gündogan is close to making his return. “I think that I’m ready to be involved in the squad again and I hope to be on duty in Köln” said the Germany international last weekend. On Thursday Jürgen Klopp announced his squad for Saturday’s trip to Köln. For the first time in 430 the days Ilkay Gündogan’s name was included.
Klopp: "Ilkay’s 14 month lay-off is nearly at an end"
Klopp has yet to decide whether the midfielder will be in the starting line-up or just take a place on the bench. “I’ll let Ilkay know personally exactly what I expect from him” said the coach. One thing is for sure: Klopp and the Borussia players are looking forward to the midfielder’s return, with the head coach already declaring it as a public holiday in the city – the chance to see the hugely talented midfielder once again is something everyone connected with BVB can’t wait for. The wait is nearly over.
"I’m certain that all recently injured players want to return as soon as possible” said Klopp. “Ilkay’s 14 month lay-off is nearly at an end. He has plenty of energy and is ready to return instantly, but we’ll need to manage him well.” The same goes for fellow Germany internationals Marco Reus and Sven Bender, the Armenian International Henrikh Mkhitaryan and former Germany player Sebastian Kehl; all of whom have recently returned from injury and are included in the squad for the came in Köln.
Gündogan – Long road to fitness
Ilkay Gündogan put on a BVB shirt on for the first time in over a year on Friday. In a U23 friendly against VfL Bochum II he played 45 minutes and scored a goal. He was calm on the ball and performed well. “After a long, long time I was finally able to play 45 minutes again” posted the 23 year old on Facebook that evening. “Even though it was only a friendly, it was still great feeling.”
It was Gündogan’s first appearance on a football pitch since Germany’s friendly against Paraguay in August 2013. He suffered a severe back injury in the match which ruled him out of the entire Bundesliga season as well as the World Cup in Brazil. The Germany international would watch BVB’s games from the press box. During his long road to fitness he travelled the world to meet with experts in the hope of hearing good news. After a few false dawns, the midfielder finally went under the knife in June and has recovered quickly.
“He looked comfortable” said BVB Sporting Director Michael Zorc after the Bochum game, but added: “We shouldn’t forget that this was only his first game.” The second followed on Tuesday. Whilst the Germany senior squad drew 1-1 with Ireland, Gündogan played in a friendly against Viktoria Köln. This game also saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Sebastian Kehl return to action.
Reus "is ready to play again"
Marco Reus is also ready to pull on a black and yellow shirt once again. The attacker, who picked up an ankle injury in Germany’s international against Scotland last month, took to the field alongside Gündogan in the friendly against Bochum II. “Marco looked good last week” explained Michael Zorc. “He is fit against and ready to play.”
Jürgen Klopp still has time to decide on his team for the weekend. Ilkay Gündogan will need more time to return to top form than Reus, Mkhitaryan, Kehl and Bender. Klopp has already announced that just because the “big name players” are back doesn’t mean that form will improve instantly.
Fans don’t want Gündogan and Co. to be rushed back
BVB fans have realistic expectations in regards to the recuperation of the injured stars. 62% of supporters who voted in an online poll for the Ruhr Nachrichten newspaper said that they wanted Gündogan and Reus to be eased back into action.
Both players would offer something to the team, as would the return to fitness of other players. Kevin Großkreutz and Neven Subotic sat out their respective internationals this month in order to get back to full fitness in Dortmund. Shinji Kagawa picked up a head injury in the game against Jamaica. He returned to Dortmund instead of facing Brazil and should be fit for the game against Köln.
BVB: Seven competitive games in 23 days
The Bundesliga is back. Before the international break BVB hoped to have all of their stars back for this weekend’s game. Most are, but some still need time - Marcel Schmelzer, Oliver Kirch, Nuri Sahin and Jakub Blaszczykowski are still missing. After the 1-0 defeat to Hamburg Klopp said: "This is a low point but also a new starting point."
There are plenty of opportunities to make amends in the coming weeks. Borussia Dortmund face seven matches in the next 23 days across three competitions: they travel to Köln, face Galatasaray home and away in the Champions League, have a DFB Cup match away to St Pauli before facing Bayern München and Borussia Mönchengladbach. The potential to get the season back on track is there. The need to improve on their current record of seven points from seven games is huge.
