An old hand is about to return to VfL Bochum’s team training. Goalkeeper Manuel Riemann is allowed to practice with the professional team again.
At VfL Bochum, goalkeeper icon Manuel Riemann is about to return to training. The Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung reported on Sunday evening that the Bundesliga club had ended the legal dispute with the long-standing goalkeeper. As a result, a court case is off the table.
Consequently, Riemann is expected to rejoin team training “early in the week”. In addition, a conversation between the 36-year-old and new coach Dieter Hecking is also said to have taken place.
Since the end of May, Riemann, who has been under contract in Bochum since 2015, has not been allowed to take part in the first team’s training due to “irreconcilable differences of opinion on team-related topics”. Shortly before the two relegation duels with Fortuna Düsseldorf, the keeper was dropped from the squad.
Since then, VfL has only offered Riemann the opportunity to complete units with the U21s or individually with a goalkeeping coach. Riemann, who played 290 competitive matches for VfL in around nine years, wanted to take legal action against this.
His starting position between the posts has been taken by summer newcomer Patrick Drewes, who joined VfL from KSC. However, the 31-year-old has conceded the most goals this season, with Drewes having conceded 30 in ten Bundesliga games.
After the international break, the bottom-placed team, which is currently seven points from the safety line, will continue in Stuttgart (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.).
