On Saturday, Gladbach’s summer signing Luca Netz will make his reunion with Berlin Hertha, whose jersey he wore for eleven years. Whether the teenager will be allowed to play from the start is still open to coach Adi Hütter – because Ramy Bensebaini is in the starting blocks.
Luca Netz organised the tickets for his family and friends. Extra support for the 18-year-old, who moved from Hertha BSC to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer and is expecting a rather frosty reception at the Olympiastadion on Saturday (6.30pm, LIVE! on kicker). “I’m looking forward to the game, but I think some will boo me as well,” Netz said ahead of his return to the capital.
The left-footer wore the Hertha jersey for eleven years before deciding to further his career in Gladbach. The chance to make appearances came sooner than expected. Netz has been in Borussia’s starting eleven five times recently, and with his substitution on the second matchday in Leverkusen, he has already made six appearances in the still young season. His potential flashed frequently, but there is still much more to come from Netz overall, says Hütter.
“Luca has cut a decent figure so far, even if he is not yet as far along as he would like himself to be. “
ADI HÜTTER
“He is a great talent in German football. Luca has cut a decent figure so far, even if he’s not yet as far along as he’d like himself to be. He has really good actions, then sometimes not so good. But Luca is only 18 years old. At this age, fluctuations in performance are quite normal,” the VfL coach explained on Thursday. Hütter did not want to guarantee the Berlin-born player a start on Saturday, despite his return to his old stomping ground: “We will see whether Luca is in the starting eleven or comes in. I don’t want to give that away yet. “
The background: Ramy Bensebaini is available again after overcoming a foot injury. Netz benefited from the absence of the Algerian, who has had no rhythm at all since the start of preparation due to various injuries, and took over the job on the left side.
Net still beckons a Bundesliga record
With Bensebaini’s comeback, Hütter has several options. He could put the international in the net position. Have him defend on the left in the three-man backline instead of Jordan Beyer. Or he could even switch to a four-man defence and deploy Bensebaini as a classic left-back. The only question is whether the 26-year-old is ready to start. “Ramy is of course not yet at his maximum performance level after the injury break,” Hütter admitted.
Whether from the start or as a substitute – it would be surprising if Netz did not celebrate his seventh professional appearance for the Foals on Saturday. And there is still even a Bundesliga record beckoning for the U-21 international: Netz, who at 17 years and 274 days became Berlin’s youngest Bundesliga goalscorer, could become the first 18-year-old to score for two different clubs in the top flight.