There are things that don’t even exist.

For days, Julian Börner (32) dominated the headlines before the game Hanover 96 at Arminia Bielefeld. The reason: the clause that his contract, which expires in the summer, is automatically extended by one year following the 23rd assignment – at the old conditions (around 65,000 euros per month).

That was 96 too many – but the second division team didn’t want to lose Börner in the relegation battle. On Friday followingnoon, 96 announced the solution: Borner canceled his old contract. Immediately following signing, the defender signed his new contract until 2025. In the season following next, he should bring his experience as “dad” to the U23s and then be integrated into the club.

So the big problem was solved in time for the mega-pressure game in Bielefeld, Börner set as defense chief at his former club. But then this!

Börner falls out on the “Alm” for a short time. 96 announced an “acute cervical spine blockage,” popularly known as “stiff neck.”

Forced break for Borner. In Bielefeld, Stefan Leitl (45) now relies on the Bubi triple chain Bright Arrey Mbi (20/ last action in February), Yannik Lührs (19) and Phil Neumann (25).

Leitl before kick-off on Sky: “It’s a big blow for us that we’re forced to change teams once more. Nevertheless, we are convinced of the personnel that we send to the field. Bright will replace Julian Borner. Of course that hurts us. He didn’t even go to Bielefeld, but we have to compensate for that.”

Also new in the team: Max Besuschkow plays instead of Sebastian Ernst. The recovered Jannik Dehm and Cedric Teuchert replace the suspended Sei Muroya and Havard Nielsen.

For Leitl it’s not just regarding three points, but also regarding his job. Börner cannot help him in Bielefeld.