Turning the Tide: Gladbach's Grit Unveiled
The Borussia Mönchengladbach squad's outing against fellow Rhinelanders 1. FC Köln, then dwelling at the bottom of the Bundesliga, wasn't their best under current head coach Gerardo Seoane (45). The first half in Darmstadt that saw a 0:3 loss, later rectified to 3:3, is another instance that echoes this sentiment. However, the most disheartening performance, as sporting director Nils Schmadtke (34) recalled, was undoubtedly the encounter with Köln.
"We've Grown as a Team"
Though the 3:1 scoreline in favor of Köln might appear flattering from Gladbach's perspective, everyone understood that such a display heralded their impending relegation. And a transformation kicked off thereafter - a transformation that has persisted until now, as confidently asserted by Schmadtke.
Following the Köln debacle, a team meeting en ensued. Schmadtke explained, "After that game, the boys gathered and, of course, we talked to them about it. Following Köln, the squad grew closer and closer together and reacted significantly differently to setbacks. You can see that during the quick 1:1 draw with Hoffenheim. We continued to grow as a team and now boast a commendable team spirit."
This collective resilience would, logically, be tested once more against VfL Wolfsburg in the DFB Cup on Tuesday (8.45pm, Sky and ARD broadcasting).
From Arrogance to Focus
For Lengthy, it was customarily expected of Gladbach that a dominant 4:0 victory against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga three weeks prior would have generated slight bouts of arrogance. Nevertheless, Schmadtke issued a stark warning: "This is a distinct competition. The previous Bundesliga win offers us no advantages for the DFB Cup match on Tuesday; we must perform once more and work diligently to prove ourselves."
The sporting director, however, saw the Köln encounter as a beacon, instructing that " whoever is brought in to replace someone tears themselves apart, the lads give their all on the pitch unconditionally. This is what we yearn for."
Top Eight Shot in the DFB Cup
Should Gladbach manage to reproduce the unwavering determination and on-pitch heart showcased against Köln in the DFB Cup, they may well find themselves within the top eight, an accomplishment worth celebrating - especially considering the presence of champions like record winners FC Bayern Munich and defending titleholders RB Leipzig, who have already exited the competition...
