Borussia Mönchengladbach's head coach Eugen Polanski is grappling with the aftermath of a disappointing 4-3 defeat at home against newly-promoted SV Elversberg, a match that saw his team squander a two-goal lead. The foals appeared to be on track for their first points of the Bundesliga season after Hugo Bolin scored twice and Joe Scally added another to establish a 3-1 advantage. However, a stunning turnaround by Elversberg, which included three goals in the last half-hour, left Gladbach reeling and still searching for their first points this season.
This loss follows a 3-0 defeat to RB Leipzig on the opening matchday, leaving Borussia Mönchengladbach at the bottom of the Bundesliga standings with zero points and seven goals conceded in just two matches. Polanski expressed his frustration during the post-match press conference, stating, "For us, it was a shitty game with a shitty ending." He acknowledged the positives up until the 3-1 mark but lamented the inexplicable mistakes that led to the defeat.
Polanski's bewilderment was evident as he reflected on the team's defensive errors. He pointed out that the collapse began with a mistake from defender Ko Itakura and noted that the team failed to mark effectively, allowing Elversberg to capitalize. He emphasized the need for better decision-making, stating, "We’re killing ourselves [with these decisions]." The coach also highlighted the nature of the goals conceded, including a free-kick that led to the third goal, which he felt was out of anyone's control, but criticized the naivety displayed on the fourth goal.
Despite the jeers from the home crowd, Polanski refused to single out any player for a lack of intensity or mentality. He acknowledged the pain of losing three points but insisted that the entire team must take responsibility for the defensive lapses. "The fact that we let in three goals in the second half means we must identify with every last fan who didn’t have a nice afternoon," he said.
In response to the team's struggles, Polanski has called for what he termed "shock therapy". He emphasized the need for the players to review game footage to understand their mistakes better. "In the final analysis, we have to address these mistakes. This consistent failure to defend is pure madness," he remarked. The urgency of his message reflects the pressure on the team to improve quickly, especially after a tumultuous previous season that saw them narrowly avoid relegation.
While there were encouraging signs in attack, particularly from Bolin, who has shown promise since joining the squad, the defensive frailties overshadowed any positives. Polanski's task now is to ensure that his players translate their training efforts into match performance, as he reiterated the importance of building the team back up following this latest setback.
As Borussia Mönchengladbach prepares for the next phase of their Bundesliga campaign, the focus will be on rectifying these defensive issues to avoid further embarrassment and to regain the trust of their supporters.
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