BVB have finally had a full week of training: "We were really looking forward to those three days but had to factor in the energy expended across many matches in recent weeks," said Thomas Tuchel, who could be without up to 11 players for Friday evening's trip to TSG Hoffenheim.

Roman Bürki (broken hand), Nuri Sahin and Neven Subotic have all been sidelined a while and will miss out. The trio of Sokratis (ankle), Gonzalo Castro (rib) and Sebastian Rode, who all picked up injuries in Cologne, will be joined by Lukasz Piszczek, who left the pitch early enough in Müngersdorf to prevent his injury from becoming serious. Nonetheless, the pains he is still experiencing in the adductor region will rule the Pole out tomorrow night.

Raphael Guerreiro returned to team training this week following a lengthy spell out but he "felt the high intensity", according to Tuchel, who confirmed that the Portuguese will not feature tomorrow either. That means eight first-teamers will definitely miss out, while doubts remain about Marc Bartra (fever), Erik Durm (back pains) and Shinji Kagawa, of whom the coach said: "It's doubtful whether he'll manage it."

"Perhaps we have no other choice but to go for the unreasonable option"

But there was one piece of good news: "Manni is back in training and is in excellent condition," reported Tuchel, who had the following to say of the defender's possible comeback: "If everyone was fit, then letting him play tomorrow probably wouldn't be the most sensible solution. But perhaps we have no other choice but to go for the unreasonable option." The coach wants to "hear Manni's opinion" after today's training session. 
Boris Rupert

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