Pre-Match Report
Many Players Returning, Some Uncertainties—The Roster Situation Ahead of the Bremen Game
Nico Schlotterbeck, who was injured while playing for Germany and returned to Dortmund early, has already been training individually here. However, he has not yet participated in team training. According to Niko Kovac, the center back is expected to join the team in training on Thursday. “Then we’ll see whether he’s ready to play or not,” said the coach. “Anyone who knows Schlotti knows that he always wants to play. We’ll discuss that together, of course in consultation with our doctors as well.”
Julian Ryerson was involved in a collision, “but we don’t know yet for sure if he’ll be ready for the weekend. In any case, we’ll wait and see how tomorrow goes.”
According to Kovac, Daniel Svensson and Konstantinos Karetsas have “a slight cold.” Karetsas is “worn out from all the playing time and the traveling. We’ll see how he’s doing by the weekend.”
Carney Chukwuemeka has returned with minor muscle issues.
Ramy Bensebaini and Mathis Albert are among the last players to return to Dortmund. Both are expected back only after long trips. While Bensebaini scored the winning goal for Algeria on Tuesday evening and is traveling back from Africa, Mathis Albert was in the starting lineup for the U.S. and is making his way back from North America.
Maximilian Beier and Marcel Sabitzer remained in Dortmund. Both had the first week of the international break off but completed a “very solid running program.” During the second week, they participated in the U23 team’s training sessions. On Tuesday, after the first national team players returned, the First team players trained together again. (cr)
