Marvin Friedrich is unhappy with his role at Borussia Mönchengladbach. He feels “zero comma zero confidence,” says the 27-year-old.

Marvin Friedrich was supposed to be the new head of defense at Borussia Mönchengladbach. For just under 5.5 million euros in transfer fees, then-manager Max Eberl had therefore brought the central defender from Bundesliga rivals Union Berlin in January 2022. Under coach Daniel Farke, however, Ko Itakura and Nico Elvedi are now set in the defensive center. Friedrich is rarely used, most recently coming on as a stoppage-time substitute in the 2-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg. The 27-year-old has now complained about his role – and criticized those responsible.

“I am absolutely dissatisfied with the current situation and feel zero comma zero confidence,” Friedrich told Sport Bild. “I moved to Borussia with great ambitions. I was assured at the time by manager Max Eberl and coach Adi Hütter that I should take on the role of a leading player here. My start was bumpy then, no question about that. Also because I didn’t have an easy course of my Corona infection. But then I fought my way back. I give everything, offer myself. And yet I don’t play a role at all.”

In the first half of the season, when Itakura was missing for months due to injury, Friedrich made ten starting eleven appearances. So far this year, however, he has played just two minutes. “I went to the coach and manager myself a few weeks ago and described my dissatisfaction to them. Both have shown understanding, but nothing has changed for me. I was certified good training performance and told that I was an important part of the team – unfortunately, I feel nothing of that. I’m in my prime as a soccer player and I’m convinced that I can help the team with my quality. But playing time is the most important thing, especially as a defender,” says Friedrich.

Before his move to the Lower Rhine, Friedrich was an undisputed regular at Union. Now he has a contract with Borussia that runs until the summer of 2026 – and he’s a reserve there. Friedrich emphasizes: “Something has to change for me, it can’t go on like this. I wouldn’t have left Union for any club, but I simply had the best feeling in Gladbach. But now it’s also about my perspective and my future.” It is possible that this will no longer be in Mönchengladbach.