Borussia Mönchengladbach delivered a solid first half of the season and, in eighth place, is keeping up with the international ranks. However, there is currently some uncertainty about the future of stars like Sommer or Thuram. The further course of the season will depend in particular on whether the players mentioned stay and the most recently injured players come back well. We take a look at the six players who are particularly challenged in the second half of the season.
It is still unclear whether Marcus Thuram will complete the second half of the season in a Borussia Mönchengladbach jersey. For the foals that would of course be extremely important. The Frenchman is the club's strongest and most prolific attacking player and the one who needs to make the difference up front. Only with Thuram in the first round form do Gladbach have a good chance of qualifying for an international competition.
Sommer is not responsible for the goals, but is just as essential for the Gladbach game. It is also extremely important for the goalkeeper to stay with the club. For several years now, the keeper has been the constant in the foal's game and the man who reliably delivers his performance even when everything else is going haywire. It is more than questionable whether Gladbach could really replace Sommer adequately. In the second part of the season, the goalkeeper is also required to lead the way with top performances.
The young newcomer from France was blitzed in the first series as the second fastest player in the Bundesliga. So far, however, Ngoumou has only played 170 competitive minutes and has not played a goal. The talent may be allowed half a year to get used to it, but it is now important that he really converts his speed and potential into something that can be counted. Gladbach does not have many offensive skills in the squad and would be particularly dependent on a dangerous joker who can still make a difference in the last 20 to 30 minutes. It would be important that Ngoumou can grow into such a role.
Florian Neuhaus missed large parts of the first half of the season due to a cruciate ligament injury. The midfielder's career is a little on the brink. A year and a half to two years ago, one would have hoped that Neuhaus would be able to advance into the world class, but now the actor has to bake smaller rolls. Neuhaus still has brilliant dispositions that could help the foals enormously. The only question is whether his body will cooperate and whether he can call up his skills.
Pléa has two goals and eleven assists in all competitions. While the assist count is impressive, the goal tally is pretty poor. However, the past has shown that the attacker - if he is in motion - can hit regularly for weeks. Pléa would be important as a goalscorer, especially if Thuram were to leave, but his compatriot could do with a little more support in building stalls.
The Japanese international's injury in the first series was more than bitter. Itakura was brought in to replace Ginter and stabilize the defense. In the absence of the new summer signing, Elvedi and Friedrich wobbled a little too often to be able to speak of a stable defense. Itakura is now expected to bring security, game control, and calmness to the foals. The Japanese is exactly the piece of the puzzle that was missing in the first half of the season. It would be all the more important that he can use his skills profitably in the second half of the season.
Foal veteran Marcus Breuer in conversation with 90min:
This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as These six Gladbach professionals are particularly challenged in the second half of the season.
