Kleindienst Returns: A New Chapter for Borussia Mönchengladbach

omidbasir- In a recent pre-match press conference, Borussia Mönchengladbach head coach Eugen Polanski indicated that it was time for the long-injured captain, Tim Kleindienst, to make his return to the field this weekend. Polanski expressed that he wasn’t overly concerned with the assessments of the club’s medical staff, emphasizing that Kleindienst needed to step back onto a Bundesliga pitch.

Polanski’s approach to reintroducing Kleindienst was cautious and low-risk. The 30-year-old striker made his comeback in a match that had already been decided against his former club, 1. FC Heidenheim. He entered the game during injury time, at the 90+1 minute mark, managing to touch the ball four times in the brief appearance.

“Just being back on the pitch is a positive thing,” Kleindienst stated in the mixed zone following the match. He expressed gratitude towards the Heidenheim fans for their applause, acknowledging that while it may have seemed sentimental, it deeply touched him.

Kleindienst is aware that it will take time to regain his fitness after undergoing major knee surgery. Additionally, there have been unexpected developments concerning the team he has not played for since late last spring.

On loan from Hoffenheim, striker Haris Tabakovic initially struggled to meet expectations, disappointing critics with two lackluster performances. However, the Bosnian international soon began capitalizing on his scoring opportunities, and his efforts have paid off significantly.

After scoring again in Saturday’s victory, Tabakovic has now netted seven goals in the league, placing him among the top scorers in the Bundesliga, trailing only England’s Harry Kane and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Jonathan Burkardt. Kleindienst was quick to commend his teammate, saying, “Haris is doing an amazing job. I hope he can ride this wave and keep it up. I need about a month and a half to two months more before I’m fully ready. I’m sure I’ll start off as a substitute, but I’m prepared for that. Competitive football is demanding, and there are still areas I need to improve, but I am comfortable coming off the bench for now.”