Gladbach manager Virkus: “Upheaval will be a little bigger” | free press

2023-04-18 08:18:25

Gladbach manager Virkus has a lot of work to do given the loss of some top performers. Virkus has now announced a “major upheaval” for the summer. But that doesn’t worry him.

Sport director Roland Virkus is confident for the coming season at Borussia Mönchengladbach, despite a number of top performers leaving without a transfer. “The upheaval will be a little bigger,” Virkus announced on Monday evening at Borussia’s annual general meeting, but promised a “very competitive squad” for the coming season. “There are a lot of players coming up,” said the 56-year-old.

Virkus had recently confirmed that top scorer Marcus Thuram and left-back Ramy Bensebaini, who will probably go to Borussia Dortmund, will move on a free transfer in the summer. Long-time captain Lars Stindl also wants to move to his home country of Baden after his contract ends in the summer and is likely to switch to Karlsruher SC. For his statement that Thuram and Bensebaini had given everything for Borussia in recent years, Virkus received malicious laughter and whistles from many of the almost 1,200 members present.

Coach Daniel Farke also had to take criticism for not replacing Thuram earlier in the event of weak performances and for not relying on the young Luca Netz (19) after Bensebaini’s decision to change. Overall, the mood among the narrow but largely relaxed despite a few disappointing performances by the former Champions League participant who had fallen into midfield. Virkus said of Thuram and Bensebaini: “They are still part of our family and family protects you.” The manager also received applause for this.

In order to reshape the squad, the club, which announced a double-digit million loss for the third time in a row on Monday, is dependent on the sale of further players. In addition to Manu Koné, Jordan Beyer, who is currently on loan to the English Premiere League promoted FC Burnley, is considered a candidate for this. “It was important for Burnley to have the possibility of a commitment in the contract, so there is a purchase option with a very high option, 15 million euros,” Virkus officially confirmed. (dpa)