AAt first glance everything seemed normal. Just under two hours after the 17-year-old newcomer Jude Bellingham was chauffeured by his mother to the Dortmund training grounds shortly before 8 a.m., Marco Reus also drove up – in a casual pose with Aston Martin and sunglasses. Like his teammates, the captain completed a Corona test on the first day of preparation for the new season. But the hopes that the national team will return to training together on Monday again proved to be wishful thinking. Even after a six-month break, Reus remains BVB’s biggest problem.
“Unfortunately, the hoped-for improvement has not yet occurred. The tendon is still inflamed. He needs to be treated conservatively and can’t train with the team yet, ”said sports director Michael Zorc. Even the regular work with a physiotherapist of the club on vacation in Ibiza did not bring the hoped-for relief. Reus still feels pain, especially when shooting. Therefore, further medical tests should be carried out and further therapy options should be discussed.
For Reus it is another chapter in his already long history of suffering. Since moving from Mönchengladbach to Dortmund in 2012, he has been on the lawn in just 57 percent of the possible time, according to “Kicker”, but has impressively underpinned his value for the team with 209 goal investments. Not least because of this, everyone involved longs for a comeback of the exceptional player, who had injured himself in the groin area on 4 February in the 2: 3 lost cup game at Werder Bremen. Zorc left open when Reus can start team training again. “It is difficult to make a prognosis over time.”
The comeback of a goal guarantee like Reus would be particularly important, especially in the case of a transfer from Jadon Sancho. It is still unclear whether the English international and best club scorer will wear the BVB jersey in the coming season. Manchester United are currently preparing an offer for the 20-year-old worth around EUR 88 million. But Sancho is unlikely to be available for less than 120 million euros. “Jadon is an outstanding footballer with a quota that I have never seen at this age. I would be glad if he would still play with us next season, “commented Zorc,” everything else is media speculation “.
In addition to Reus, Borussia and Hummels will miss another lead wolf for the time being. The head of defense was overturned during the private break with friends during the summer break and is therefore expected at the earliest in team training in the training camp in Bad Ragaz (10th to 17th August).
BVB sees no need to prematurely extend the contract with coach Lucien Favre, which expires at the end of the season. “We have a growing relationship of trust with each other. The club and coaches have determined that we do not see the need to extend their contracts. We go into the season like this. We have agreed that with each other and want to be as successful as possible, ”said Zorc.
In addition to Bellingham (Birmingham), the second newcomer Thomas Meunier (Paris) as well as the talent Youssoufa Moukoko from the company’s own offspring also participated in the first Corona test. A first group training should only take place after a second corona test on Saturday and a fitness check on Sunday at the beginning of the coming week.
At the latest with the first team training, the 15-year-old Moukoko will also be in the spotlight. Until his possible Bundesliga debut on November 20, the exceptional talent will continue to chase goals in the U19, but will train among the professionals. Zorc advised the media representatives to treat Moukoko with care: “He should be introduced to senior football. He is an outstanding talent, but still very young. So you shouldn’t put too much expectation on your shoulders. ”
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