Borussia Mönchengladbach coach Eugen Polanski is prescribing shock therapy for his team after another defensive collapse. Gladbach suffered a 4-3 home defeat to SV Elversberg on Saturday in the Bundesliga, throwing away a 3-1 lead in the process.
This loss, first reported by sports.yahoo.com, marks a second consecutive league defeat this season, leaving Borussia rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga table with zero points. Their record after two matchdays is alarming: three goals scored and seven conceded. Any title hopes are already distant, with the team trailing leaders SC Freiburg by six points.
What went wrong against Elversberg?
Gladbach initially seemed on course for a much-needed victory. Hugo Bolin scored a brace, and Joe Scally found the net in the second half for a 3-1 lead. However, the defense completely imploded in the final half-hour, conceding three times. "For us, it was a shitty game with a shitty ending," Polanski stated post-match. He pinpointed a chain of errors, starting with an individual mistake by Ko Itakura on the first goal. Instead of marking tighter, the team engaged in a footrace with David Mokwa rather than clearing the ball or committing a tactical foul. The third goal was a directly converted free-kick, which Polanski admitted was hard to stop. The fourth goal, however, showed the team being "incredibly naive."
How is coach Eugen Polanski responding?
The head coach was baffled by the consistent defensive frailty, calling it "pure madness." His prescribed remedy is shock therapy. "It's clear to me that we've nothing else to discuss besides these three goals," Polanski declared, referring to a rigorous video analysis of the critical scenes. He said the response must come from the team. "We have to build the lads back up," he added. Polanski defended his players' basic attitude, refusing to accuse any single individual of lacking intensity or mentality. Yet, the team must identify with fans who had a bad afternoon. The jeers from the home crowd hurt, but not as much as giving away three points.
Which personnel issues are affecting Gladbach?
The defensive woes are compounded by several injuries. Daiki Hashioka, Enzo Leopold, Jens Castrop, and Yukhym Konoplya will remain sidelined for the next fixture away at league leaders SC Freiburg on September 12. An updated squad list is available on our team page. These absences make the task harder for Polanski and sporting director Rouven Schröder. Schröder opted to retain Polanski following last season's difficult relegation battle while substantially restructuring both the squad and coaching staff.
What's next for Borussia Mönchengladbach?
The focus is now entirely on defensive work. A positive note is the performance of Hugo Bolin, whose quality Polanski has praised since his arrival earlier this year. Gladbach created enough attacking opportunities to be in a commanding position. The recurring defensive mistakes, however, leave the coach perplexed. The next chance for redemption comes, ironically, against the current table-toppers. The away match at SC Freiburg on September 12 presents a huge challenge for a shaken team. Borussia's complete fixture schedule can be found in our fixtures overview. The current league standings are always accessible on the Bundesliga standings page.
