Kleindienst Returns as Tabakovic Thrives in Bundesliga

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 action this weekend. Polanski emphasized that he was not overly concerned about the opinions of the club’s medical staff, stating that Kleindienst needed to step back onto a Bundesliga field.

Ultimately, Polanski utilized Kleindienst in a low-risk manner. The 30-year-old striker entered the match against his former club, 1. FC Heidenheim, when the outcome was already decided. With four minutes of injury time added in the second half, Kleindienst made his appearance at 90+1 minutes, managing to touch the ball four times during his brief stint.

“Just being back on the pitch is a positive thing,” Kleindienst commented in the mixed zone following the match. “I thank the Heidenheim fans for their applause. It might seem a bit cheesy, but it touched me deeply.”

Kleindienst is aware that it will take some time before he can play extended minutes following his major knee surgery. Additionally, there is an unexpected development concerning the team he has not represented since late spring.

On loan from Hoffenheim, striker Haris Tabakovic was initially seen as a potential flop. His first two performances confirmed the skepticism surrounding him. However, he soon began to capitalize on the limited scoring opportunities he received.

Tabakovic, who scored again in Saturday’s victory, has now netted seven league goals. Only English star striker Harry Kane and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Jonathan Burkardt have scored more Bundesliga goals this season. Kleindienst was quick to commend his fellow late-bloomer in his post-match remarks, stating, “Haris is doing an amazing job. I hope he can ride this wave and keep it up. I need another month-and-a-half to two months. I’m sure I’ll be coming on as a substitute a few times initially. Competitive football is tough, and there are still a few things I need to work on. But I have no problem coming off the bench at the moment.”

GGFN | Peter Weis