Borussia Monchengladbach director of sport Max Eberl would welcome the chance to take on the club’s former goalkeeper Marc-Andre terStegen in the Champions League next season, even if that would endanger the Bundesliga club’s chances of progressing. Gladbach return to European football’s elite club competition next season after falling agonisingly close to qualifying three years ago, when defeat in the playoff saw them instead drop into the Europa League.

Founded in 1900, BorussiaMönchengladbach play in the Bundesliga, the top tier of the German football league system, making their first appearance in the league during the 1965–66 season. Subsequently the club became one of Germany’s best-known, best-supported, and most successful teams, winning the Bundesliga five times during the 1970s.

By virtue of finishing third behind Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg last season, the Foals automatically enter in the group stage, but their lack of experience means they can expect a low seeding. That in turn could see them drawn into a challenging group, potentially including the defending champions.

TerStegen left Gladbach, the club where he made his breakthrough with 108 appearances, just a year ago. Last Saturday, he was on the field in Berlin lifting the Champions League trophy aloft.TerStegen has boosted his chances of playing for the world champions after the Barcelona goalkeeper impressed Germany coach Joachim Loew in his side’s Champions League final victory.

“It’s certainly going to be a big challenge,” Eberl said. “But meeting the holders Barcelona and renewing acquaintances with Marc-Andre terStegen would be fantastic.”

German goalkeeping coach Andreas Kopke, said in an interview: “thanks to their goalkeeper Marc-Andre terStegen, who has kept net for them in all Champions League matches and cup games. For me, he’s come on a further step, despite his young age, he oozes authority and safety. This isn’t the end of this development.”

The German was impressive in keeping the Juventus attack at bay and his performance caught the eye of Germany’s World Cup-winning coach.

According to Eberl, TerStegen did great things for Borussia and “he would do great things for Barcelona too.” The sporting director has set his side the target of remaining in Europe going into 2016, which would mean finishing third in the group and dropping into the Europa League would not be a calamity.

With Gladbach likely to be among the fourth group of seeds, that would still represent a success for the North-Rhine Westphalian club and the Bundesliga, who sent four teams into the last 16 of the Champions League last season.