A mood of crisis in Gladbach. The historic 0:6 debacle against Freiburg fits in with many other disappointments. And makes it clear once again that the face of the team needs to change.
Whoever talks about a snapshot in time with the situation in Gladbach or dismisses the Freiburg flop as a one-off slip-up is mistaken, even hugely so. In the end, the defeat, even if the 0:6 puts all previous bankruptcies in the shade, only joins the list of major disappointments and puzzling lapses this year.
The problem is: Champions League-ready performances like the rapturous 5-0 triumph over FC Bayern in the Cup or the 1-0 defeat of Borussia Dortmund dangerously often overshadow the many belly flops in between and seem to blind those involved at Borussia-Park for too long, especially the players themselves.
Figures speak a clear language
Because the truth is this: Gladbach ranks just 11th in the annual table! Only 49 points have been earned in the 35 Bundesliga games played so far in 2021. Less, of course, than Bayern (82), Dortmund (72) or Leipzig (55). But also less than Frankfurt (61!), Mainz (54), Freiburg (53), Union Berlin (52) or Hoffenheim (51).
And that’s with a luxury squad that hasn’t suffered a loss of substance due to the departure of a star since the summer of 2019 – and costs a correspondingly high amount. Even if the people in charge at Borussia Park most likely see it quite differently: A second year in a row without a European Cup would be tantamount to failure on all levels.
Many questions loom large
But even if Adi Hütter leads the Foals back to international business next May, this squad is crying out for change. Where were the leaders in defence and midfield against Freiburg, fighting back and sorting out the chaos? Why does this team keep giving the impression that it is letting the supposedly lesser players take the mickey? Why does the team run five kilometres less than the opponent in the derby against Cologne, and even seven against Freiburg?
Sports director Max Eberl refuses to believe that there is a mentality problem. But not least the many poor away performances, see among others the defeats in Augsburg or at Hertha BSC (both 0:1), testify to the contrary. Moreover, the team seems to have generally come to a standstill in its development.
Worst-case scenario looms
There are figures for this too. In 2020, when Gladbach finished sixth in the annual table, the points average was 1.60 points per Bundesliga game compared to 1.40 in the current year. Fittingly, fewer goals are scored (average 1.66 compared to 1.90 in 2020) and more conceded (average 1.66, previously 1.47). It has become clear since the start of the season that Hütter has to deal with many problems that also occurred under predecessor Marco Rose and have not been solved since then.
But: It is extremely difficult for Borussia to find new ways of planning personnel, even from a purely economic point of view. Financially, the Gladbachers’ hands are tied by Corona, missing out on the European Cup and the lack of income from player sales – and in the cases of Matthias Ginter, Denis Zakaria and Jordan Beyer (contracts expire), even the worst-case scenario looms for next summer: a transfer-free departure.
