The Bundesliga starts the 2024/25 season on August 23rd! Before the start, bundesliga.de takes a close look at all the clubs in the team check. This time: Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Foals strengthened themselves well in the summer and want to attack in the second year under coach Gerardo Seoane.
Do you have the players from Borussia Mönchengladbach in your fantasy team?
Borussia Mönchengladbach is entering its second year under head coach Gerardo Seoane. After the past season was marked by ups and downs and the team only finished 14th in the table, things are set to improve again in the new season. The Foals’ squad has largely been kept together and strengthened in certain areas. A new addition to the offensive line in particular provides hope and a goal threat.
The most important new addition: Tim Kleindienst
Gladbach have a new goalscorer: Tim Kleindienst is set to take advantage of the chances at Borussia Park from this season. The 28-year-old is moving from 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 to the Rhinelanders and, according to managing director Roland Virkus, is a centre forward with a wide range of skills. Kleindienst has a strong goal-scoring instinct, but at the same time is always at the service of the team. Thanks to his height (1.94 metres), he has a strong header game and can hold the ball up front excellently. In Borussia’s wing-heavy game, he is unlikely to be fed with just a few crosses.
Kleindienst proved over several years in Heidenheim that he knows where the goal is. He scored a total of 69 second division goals for FCH. After promotion, he also scored twelve times in the top division last season and played a key role in the Swabians reaching international competition. Now the former junior national player wants to prove that he can do it outside of Heidenheim too.
The new jerseys for the 2024/25 season
The key player: Franck Honorat
Franck Honorat looks back on a very successful debut season. The 27-year-old winger played outside of France for the first time and didn’t need long to acclimatize to the Bundesliga. Honorat, who joined Borussia from Brest, immediately proved to be a regular and finished the season with five goals and 13 assists across all competitions. Despite the strong performance, it is not unlikely that he will improve again in his second year.
The Frenchman feels most comfortable on the right side of the attack, as he can repeatedly deliver razor-sharp passes into the box with his strong right foot. With Kleindienst, he now has a target player at his side who he can also look for on set pieces. The two attackers should form a dangerous duo for Borussia.
Official transfer market: All summer transfers at a glance
Franck Honorat after his derby goal against Cologne – Lars Baron
The possible starting eleven
Last season, the Foals often played with a back three under Seoane. During the preparation, the Swiss now had a back four play, which could stabilize the Gladbach defense again. Borussia’s back line was one of the weakest points in the last round, and overall they conceded the third most goals (67 goals) in the league behind bottom club Darmstadt and Bochum.
Apart from Tony Jantschke and Patrick Herrmann, who ended their careers in the summer, Gladbach have not lost any important pillars so far. Instead, in addition to Kleindienst, they were able to sign another key player from a competitor, Kevin Stöger. The Austrian led VfL Bochum 1848 to avoid relegation last year thanks to seven goals and ten assists. While the two new signings will probably start in the first eleven, Philipp Sander, who has joined from newly promoted Holstein Kiel, will initially have to line up behind Rocco Reitz.
This is how Gladbach could play
Omlin – Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Netz – Weigl, Reitz – Honorat, Stöger, Hack – Kleindienst
Possible Borussia starting eleven – DFL
