'We'll give everything' – Zento Uno ready to help Gladbach turn season around
Zento Uno is determined to help Borussia Mönchengladbach climb off the bottom of the Bundesliga table after making his competitive debut for the club in the Matchday 5 Rhine derby defeat to Cologne.
The Japanese midfielder joined Gladbach from Shimizu S-Pulse in July, but missed the opening weeks of the 2026/27 campaign with a muscle injury. He came off the bench in last weekend's 2-1 derby loss, as the Foals suffered a fifth consecutive league defeat to start the season.
"It was a difficult period because I was struggling with a muscle injury and couldn't play at first," Uno told the Gladbach website. "At the same time, though, I was able to use that time to settle into my new surroundings and get used to life in Germany."
The two-time Japan international also credited new head coach Alexander Blessin, who replaced Eugen Polanski ahead of the Cologne fixture, for showing faith in him: "The fact that he gave me the chance to play at a difficult time for the team shows that he trusts me. I want to repay that trust."
Watch: Gladbach fell short in Cologne on Matchday 5
Uno believes his combative style can help Gladbach find a way forward, despite admitting he is still adapting to the physical demands of the German game.
"I'm a player who likes getting stuck into challenges and covering a lot of ground. I can work hard out of possession, win second balls and hold my own in challenges," he explained. "My aim is to become more of a goal threat, score goals and provide assists."
Gladbach host second-bottom Hoffenheim on Sunday, with Blessin's side desperate to get their campaign up and running and climb off the foot of the table. Five-time Bundesliga champions, the Foals have a proud history and a passionate fanbase, something Uno is keen to do justice to as he looks to help turn their season around.
"Borussia are also a big club with a lot of supporters, so there's a great deal of responsibility on every player," he affirmed. "I know our fans are expecting us to win. As a team, we'll give everything to make that happen. The most important thing for me, though, is that we get the result as a team and take all three points."
