Terzic speaks on fitness levels of Sancho, Maatsen, and Reyna
BVB trainer Edin Terzic spoke on the fitness levels of his two new star acquisitions at his Friday presser, providing direct updates on Jadon Sancho and Ian Maatsen ahead of tomorrow's evening's clash with SV Darmstadt 98.
Terzic also fielded queries on the role of little utilized and oft-injured American attacker Giovanni Reyna.
Terzic also fielded queries on the role of little utilized and oft-injured American attacker Giovanni Reyna.
| Edin Terzic. |
"It's also obvious that we brought in both players so that they could play," Terzic said of Sancho and Maatsen, "We were looking for lads who could improve our team and also get their fair share of playing time. We want to integrate both of them as quickly as possible so that they get a lot of minutes with us."
"[Sancho] is a player with a high level of natural fitness," Terzic continued, "but he hasn't played for a very long time. We wish to ride his euphoria, but do so carefully. We can't afford to rush him through too quickly and then lose him to a stupid injury."
The case appears to be different with Maatsen, who had been logging some meaningful relief minutes for Chelsea just after Christmas. Germany's "Sport Bild" tabloid also indicated today that - with left-back Ramy Bensebaini off representing Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations - Maatsen could be in line for an immediate start. Terzic left start for Madsen open.
"Maatsen's a bit more advanced than Jadon because he was still playing for Chelsea recently," Terzic said, "He's done really well in the last few sessions. We hope that he'll be able to fit in with the group immediately and will be able to liven up the attack on the wings."
Terzicalso fielded a question about American attacker Giovanni Reyna, who has featured very little this season following a fractured tibia early in the campaign. Reyna - who had been having difficulty finding his way into the XI already last spring - is now the subject of many outgoing transfer rumors.
Terzic at least declared the once heralded phenom to be fully fit and took care to emphasize that the 21-year-old had returned his "best [performance based] fitness metrics during the just-completed January training camp.
"His fitness levels have improved significantly and his abilities are well known," Terzic said of Reyna, "Of course, we'd like to play him on the wings more often, but his clear strengths lie in the ten or eight slot. Even there, however, competition is fierce."