Borussia Mönchengladbach have sacked head coach Eugen Polanski after just three matchdays of the new Bundesliga season. The decision came in the wake of a 5-0 thrashing away to SC Freiburg on Saturday afternoon, a result that leaves the club 17th in the table with zero points.
Polanski, who joined the club's academy at age eight and made his professional debut for Gladbach in 2004, had been in the job for just under a year after previously coaching the under-23s for three seasons. "Borussia Mönchengladbach was and always will be my club," the 40-year-old said. "That’s why it hurts so much that things have turned out like this." After securing survival last season, changes were made for this campaign. "We had high hopes, but we didn’t manage to achieve them. I’m sorry about that."
Freiburg Debacle Seals Fate
The match in Freiburg turned into a disaster. Gladbach were already 2-0 down at halftime following goals from Yannick Engelhardt (23rd minute) and Igor Matanovic (29th minute). Captain Tim Kleindienst was sent off in the 64th minute after receiving a second yellow card. The team then conceded three more times in the closing stages, including a second for Engelhardt. Former Gladbach defender Matthias Ginter provided two assists. The stats after three games are dire: three defeats, three goals scored, and twelve conceded.
The current league standings show Gladbach in 17th place with no points and a goal difference of minus nine. They are already nine points behind leaders SC Freiburg. The last three competitive matches have all ended in defeat.
Turmoil in Squad and Leadership
The sporting crisis is accompanied by internal unrest. Kleindienst had criticised teammates after a shocking 4-3 home loss to newly-promoted SV Elversberg the previous week, suggesting in an interview that they should spend less time on TikTok. The leadership structure is also in flux. Sporting director Roland Virkus stepped down last September but remains involved in scouting. His successor, Rouven Schröder, now faces the difficult task of appointing a new manager.
The situation echoes the start of last season, when predecessor Gerardo Seoane was also dismissed after only three games. The glory days under Marco Rose, who led the side to the Champions League last 16 five-and-a-half years ago, feel distant. Key players like Marcus Thuram and Ramy Bensebaini left the club when their contracts expired.
Injury Concerns Ahead of Mainz Clash
Several players will be missing for the next match against FSV Mainz 05 at BORUSSIA-PARK on Saturday. Daiki Hashioka, Enzo Leopold, Jens Castrop, Nicolas-Gerrit Kühn and Yukhym Konoplya are currently sidelined. The latest squad status is available in our squad section. Top scorer so far this season is Hugo Bolin with two goals. The last meeting with Mainz, currently eighth, ended in a 1-1 draw in April. An interim coach will prepare the team for the 3:30 pm kick-off.
First reported at The Guardian Football
