Seoane ahead of #BMGWOB: “We have to bring the required intensity and aggression”

Gladbach head coach Gerardo Seoane spoke to the media prior to the Foals’ encounter with VfL Wolfsburg on Friday evening (20:30 CET). Here are his most important quotes.

…the squad situation: Jordan has a minor muscle injury. We hope he’ll be back in training after the international break. We don’t want to take any risks with him. Yvandro Borges Sanches is a step closer to playing again and is training individually. As was the case with Tony Jantschke, he’ll be partially integrated into training during the international break.

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…the vacant position up front: Jordan’s injury means there’s a spot up for grabs in the team. All of the attackers have a chance. Tomáš Čvančara has been in a good rhythm for a few weeks now. It goes without saying that he’s not been too happy recently, as he hasn’t been playing as much. He’s dealt with the situation well, however, and is itching to play.

…Max Wöber’s condition: There’s still a question mark over Max Wöber. He hyperextended his muscle and has been absent from team training for two days as a result. Max was only partially integrated today. We’ll see tomorrow morning whether it will be possible for him to play, and, of course, hope that the results are positive.

…Jonas Omlin and Ko Itakura’s progress: Jonas and Ko have coped well with the initial phases of their respective injuries. Both of their recoveries are progressing as planned, although it’s possible for some setbacks to occur. They are working really hard with the physios in the gym. Having the operation was the right decision for both players, as it will allow them to play football pain-free in the future.

…the next opponents: Wolfsburg stand out because of their intensity, but they also play good, structured football. They’re versatile and keep things tight at the back. They cover a lot of distance and are excellent off the ball. We’ve got to make sure that we’re technically good in possession, especially with our build-up play, and do a lot of running in order to reduce the amount of pressure the opposition put on us. We’ve also got to bring the required intensity and aggression.

…the lack of aggression in the second half of the Freiburg game: Thinking more defensively with a two-goal lead is completely normal. That being said, we should’ve had more of the ball and tried to make things easier for ourselves. We all have to stay active when we’re in front. We can influence the game from the sidelines with instructions and substitutions. The leaders on the pitch still have to play their part, though. They have to confer amongst themselves and step in to break the opposition’s rhythm, so the team can be more active again.

…the team’s potential to improve: We’re definitely still missing something in the individual battles and we’re not as solid or as shrewd as we could be. But it’s a process and we’re working on it. I’m convinced that we’ll be able to make another step in the right direction on Friday.