Bensebaini set for return against Dortmund, Hofmann still trains individually
Amid all of his squad's defensive issues, Gladbach head-coach Adi Hütter can at least rely upon left-back Ramy Bensebaini's for this weekend's crucial fixture against Borussia Dortmund.
Makeshift right-back Jonas Hofmann, on the other hand, will likely not be ready on time.
For the fans of Borussia Mönchengladbach, Saturday evening's "Top-Spiel" carries with it a significant emotional investment. The BMG ultras felt deeply hurt and betrayed when their trainer Marco Rose announced his move to Borussia Dortmund last spring. Unable to enter their home stadium due to the pandemic, Gladbach fans hung derogatory banners outside the arena denouncing Rose as a liar and traitor.
Makeshift right-back Jonas Hofmann, on the other hand, will likely not be ready on time.
There will most certainly be some unflattering banners greeting Rose on his return to Borussia Park this coming Saturday evening, along with a full complement of boos and whistles. Rose's BVB enter the round six "Top-Spiel" as heavy favorites. The foals remain a long way from finding their footing under new trainer Adi Hütter.
One of Hütter's primary problems lies in defense. The injury-riddled ranks have allowed 33 opposition scoring chances through the first five rounds of the season. Only Hoffenheim, Köln, and the two consistently weak promoted teams have a worse record. With fullbacks Ramy Bensebaini and Stefan Lainer both out, the highly gifted Joe Scally has sometimes had difficulty dealing with demanding positional switches.
There looks to be some good news out of the Gladbach camp as Bensebaini completed two full team training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Algerian internationals return can greatly assist Hütter in building a back-four with Scally back on his natural right hand side.
German national team starter Jonas Hofmann, capable of working at right back or at the very least assisting Scally as an inverted winger, could only complete an individualized program on Wednesday. Hofmann's return from nagging muscular issues seems as if it will take longer.
"I hope that he [Hofmann] can rejoin team training promptly," Hütter said on Wednesday, "Ramy and Jonas are two very important players for us who can up our game."