Bundesliga: Gladbach's Sports Director Virkus on the 1-1 Draw against St. Pauli
- "Virkus, Gladbach's sports director, advises: Maintain humility"
Yeah, so Gladbach dropped points against St. Pauli, missing the opportunity to squeeze closer to European spots. But in a half-full kind of way, here's what Gladbach's sports director, Roland Virkus, had to say after the game: "We'd've lost this one last season," the 58-year-old admitted, echoing a different tune after the final whistle.
You know, Virkus wasn’t too pleased with their performance, commenting that the team seemed to lack control against St. Pauli. The defense held its ground, but the midfield and the attack seemed to lack creativity. However, he did have props for the opposition, labeling St. Pauli as a "good team" that deserves respect.
One player managed to avoid any harsh criticism from the Mönchengladbach sports director – goalkeeper Tiago Pereira Cardoso. On the eve of his 19th birthday, this young gun put on a stellar show, playing a blinder and was immune to blame in conceding the late equalizer.
"He was the man of the match," Virkus said, seemingly impressed. With Jonas Omlin recovering from a muscle fiber tear, Pereira Cardoso is likely to retain his spot between the posts. Virkus is guarded about Omlin's return, saying they don't want to jinx it by speculating about a comeback date.
Seemingly focused on the next game, Virkus mentioned that they need to leave this disappointment behind, bank the point, and gear up for Freiburg at their home turf on Saturday, 3:30 PM (Sky). Nathan Ngoumou, who came on in the 86th minute, won't be part of the action – he suffered an Achilles tendon injury and was carried off the field.
Now, while there's not much specific information on the previous encounters between Gladbach and St. Pauli, it's worth noting that St. Pauli hasn't been having the best run this season. They've been edging out the relegation zone by a three-point difference from Heidenheim. With seven wins, four draws, and sixteen losses in 27 matches, they still have a way to go to secure their place in the top flight[1][5].
Their recent outing saw them go up against Bayern Munich and lose 3-2, a game that showcased their resilience to come back despite the eventual defeat[2][3]. Upcoming matches, such as their clash against Gladbach at home, are crucial to their survival hopes, followed by a trip to Holstein Kiel, which could help alleviate their relegation concerns.
All things considered, Gladbach and Virkus will need to put their foot on the gas for the upcoming games to secure a much-needed win. It's a no-brainer, really – they need to keep punching above their weight to secure their place for the following season.
- Roland Virkus, the Mönchengladbach sports director, mentioned that Tiago Pereira Cardoso, the team's goalkeeper, was a notable exception in terms of praise, as he played exceptionally well and managed to avoid criticism for conceding the late equalizer.
- Virkus also hinted that Cardoso is likely to maintain his position as the starting goalkeeper, given Jonas Omlin's recovery from a muscle fiber tear and the uncertainty surrounding his return date.
- Despite the 1-1 draw against St. Pauli, a team that Virkus described as a "good team" that deserves respect, minimal financial aid might be necessary for the club to secure a much-needed win and maintain their position in the Bundesliga, especially for their upcoming game against Freiburg at their home turf.
