Marvin Friedrich
FCU
Center Back
Ball-Playing Center Back
Dec 13, 1995 (30)
Right
6'4"
179 lb
Recovers from illness
Friedrich has recovered from the cold that kept him sidelined in recent days and has been back in training since Friday, according to Berliner Morgenpost.
Analysis: Friedrich had been back in full team training after spending three weeks sidelined earlier in the season, though he was not yet ready for competitive action and has yet to make a matchday squad since the injury disrupted the start of his second spell with Union Berlin. This latest return to the training pitch keeps him on track to move into contention once the international break concludes.
Not ready for Bayern clash
Friedrich (undisclosed) remains unavailable for Friday's Bundesliga clash against Bayern Munich despite recently returning to full team training, according to coach Mauro Lustrinelli.
Analysis: Friedrich has been back in full training after spending three weeks sidelined but isn't yet ready to return to competitive action. The center-back has yet to make a matchday squad this season after the injury disrupted the start of his second spell with Union Berlin. His continued participation in team training should put him in position to return to contention after the international break.
Returns to team training
Friedrich has returned to full team training after spending three weeks sidelined with an undisclosed issue suffered during a training session, according to the club.
Analysis: Friedrich has yet to make a matchday squad this season after the injury interrupted his return to Union Berlin during the summer. The center-back's return to full training represents a significant step toward making his first squad of the campaign, though he may need additional sessions before being considered for competitive minutes following three weeks on the sidelines.
Remains out indefinitely
Friedrich (undisclosed) has been ruled out for Friday's Bundesliga clash against Schalke 04 and remains without a timetable for his return, according to coach Mauro Lustrinelli.
Analysis: Friedrich remains sidelined by the issue he sustained in training and has yet to make an appearance this season. Union have still not disclosed the nature or severity of the problem, and the absence of a return date suggests the center-back could remain unavailable beyond Friday's contest. His status will need to be monitored on a week-to-week basis.
Out against Leverkusen
Friedrich (undisclosed) has been ruled out for Saturday's Bundesliga clash against Bayer Leverkusen, according to coach Mauro Lustrinelli.
Analysis: Friedrich's wait to return continues after an issue sustained in training also kept him out of the Bundesliga opener against Eintracht Frankfurt. Union still haven't disclosed the exact nature or severity of the problem, making it difficult to establish a timetable for his comeback. His continued absence reduces manager Mauro Lustrinelli's options in central defense against a dangerous Leverkusen attack.
Ruled out for Bundesliga opener
Friedrich will miss Saturday's Bundesliga opener against Eintracht Frankfurt after picking up an issue in training, according to coach Mauro Lustrinelli.
Analysis: Friedrich will remain sidelined after the same issue already kept him out of the DFB-Pokal win over Eintracht Braunschweig. The summer signing has undergone medical assessment, but Union have yet to provide further details on the nature of the problem or a potential return timeline. Friedrich will therefore have to wait to make his Bundesliga debut for the club, with his availability beyond Saturday remaining uncertain.
Absent from cup squad, status unclear
Friedrich (undisclosed) was surprisingly left out of Union Berlin's squad for Sunday's 4-2 German Cup win at Eintracht Braunschweig, with coach Mauro Lustrinelli offering only limited detail afterward.
Analysis: Friedrich's exact issue remains unclear, with Lustrinelli saying only that something came up in training and that the summer signing is currently undergoing further examination. The club plans to release an update once test results come back, but for now, his path to training and back into contention remains uncertain. A Bundesliga opener absence against Frankfurt on Saturday now looks like a real possibility.
Returns to Union Berlin
Friedrich signed with Union Berlin, returning to the club after four and a half years at Borussia Monchengladbach, the club announced.
Analysis: Friedrich made 141 competitive appearances for Union during his first spell between 2018 and 2022, playing a decisive role in one of the most significant moments in the club's history when his header helped secure the draw at Stuttgart that paved the way for Union's first-ever promotion to the Bundesliga. The 30-year-old center-back returns with considerably more experience than when he left, having spent four and a half seasons at Monchengladbach since his departure. Director of football Horst Heldt highlighted his knowledge of the club's values, his proven leadership ability and his mental strength as the key factors behind the decision to bring him back, expressing confidence that Friedrich will immediately provide stability to the defensive unit. His return to Kopenick represents a full circle moment for a player who has described Union as the place where he grew most as both a player and a person.
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