Germany international goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller has been demoted to the Borussia Dortmund bench by new coach Thomas Tuchel.
"It was a difficult decision," Tuchel told reporters on Friday.
Roman Burki will be in goal for Dortmund when they open the new season at the Westfalenstadion against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters at his news conference, Tuchel said "both deserved" to be in goal after a strong preseason.
"Both have shown top performances in preseason," Tuchel said, calling the decision to demote the 35-year-old, who has played at Dortmund since 2002 "a very difficult" one.
"He's an extraordinary sportsman," Tuchel said, and also announced that the 2014 World Cup winner with Germany will be in goal for Dortmund in their Europa League qualifiers.
However, in the Bundesliga he will be replaced by Switzerland international Roman Burki, who joined from Freiburg this summer.
"We have a good feeling about this," Tuchel said.
Dortmund host Gladbach in the featured Bundesliga match on Saturday evening, and Tuchel said that BVB "feel well prepared to challenge" the Foals, who finished third last season.
"We want to beat Borussia Monchengladbach," he said, and warned that "right now they are the most awkward and most complicate opponent for us. Coach Lucien Favre and sporting executive Max Eberl have developed a fantastic team over the past few years."