Goals and Herrmann honour eclipsed by Castrop injury at Gladbach

Borussia Mönchengladbach’s preseason test match offered a striking contrast: a flood of goals and a tribute to club legend Patrick Herrmann brought joy, yet a suspected shoulder injury to young defender Jens Castrop cast a dark shadow over the start of the campaign.

The friendly against Kreisligist SV Rottach‑Egern was billed as a relaxed task to help the squad ease into the new season, providing a low‑pressure environment for players to get match‑fit and to fine‑tune tactics.

At 35, Patrick Herrmann was honoured with a brief appearance, a gesture that highlighted his status as a club legend and gave fans a moment of celebration amid the festivities.

The match finished a comfortable 15‑0 win, and the overall atmosphere was described as smooth, confirming that the team’s preparation was on track.

The turning point arrived in the 65th minute when Jens Castrop, 23, collapsed in pain and could not continue. Medical staff suspected a shoulder injury and he was taken off on a stretcher, leaving the opposition unable to resume play.

Castrop had been a beacon of hope last season, and veteran defender Eugen Polanski, 40, was reluctant to lose him. After the incident, the eight‑time South Korean international was rushed to hospital, with a definitive diagnosis expected later that Thursday.

The recent injury to new signing Yukhym Konoplya, 26, makes another setback in a test match especially unwelcome for the coaching staff as they look toward the season opener.

Gladbach’s first competitive fixture is scheduled for 29 August at 15:30 in Leipzig, and supporters in the Niederrhein region hope both Castrop and Konoplya will recover in time for that game.