Borussia Monchengladbach's young pups charging towards the next predicament
Following a disappointing end to the previous season, Borussia Mönchengladbach was expected to bounce back. The addition of notable signings boosted hopes, yet the team failed to gain traction. In contrast, FC Augsburg relied on their home strength, eventually securing a thrilling victory and a standout goal.
Last season, Borussia's Kevin Stöger and Keven Schlotterbeck played a crucial part in VfL Bochum's survival in the 1. Bundesliga. They overturned a 0:3 deficit in the relegation playoff against Fortuna Düsseldorf. Unfortunately, they moved on to new challenges, leaving the Bochum fans yearning for more. This time around, they faced each other once more. And it was Schlotterbeck who savored the winning moment, scoring a stunning goal for Augsburg to secure a 2:1 triumph over Stöger's Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Borussia had started this season rather poorly. With aspirations to build upon the 2020/21 campaign, they recruited two promising players: Stöger and Tim Kleindienst, who earned a call-up to the German national football team for the first time. Kleindienst showcased his value as one of Gladbach's few in-form players, equalizing the score at the 72nd minute.
Regrettably, Borussia's performance was underwhelming overall, placing additional pressure on head coach Gerardo Seoane. Concerns about his position have been circulating since last season, yet he has managed to maintain it so far. This victory was not enough to alleviate his frustration, and he wasn't pleased with the team's performance: "We made too many technical errors, our passing was sloppy, and our decision-making was poor. When we attempted to pressure, we failed to pose a significant threat to the opponents' final line."
Furthermore, the approaching international break did not improve his mood. He acknowledged the limitations that came with it: "I will keep my thoughts on the international break to myself. As a manager, I can't change it. By losing tonight, we enter the weekend in a melancholic mood. We will use this time to work with the players available to us."
Borussia's players echoed their coach's sentiments, expressing frustration and self-criticism. Captain Julian Weigl voiced his thoughts on their performance during the first half: "I can't fully explain it. In the initial stages, we invited Augsburg with our mistakes, including those during the build-up. In the second half, our efforts fell short, and we failed to close the gaps at the back. That's why tonight was an overall disappointment."
Meanwhile, Augsburg's coach, Jess Thorup, expressed his satisfaction with the victory, joking about Schlotterbeck's potential as a forward: "Perhaps, I will consider using Keven as a striker when he recovers from his injury." The defender celebrated by scoring a delightful volley to put his team in the lead and put them on the path to victory.
Marius Wolf showcased his skill by controlling the ball in Borussia's penalty area with his chest before delivering a powerful shot into the net. How often does he execute shots like that? He responded with a laugh: "Nine times out of ten, of course." He praised his team for their collective effort, acknowledging their mentality, passion, and determination. Wolf was one of Augsburg's standout players until the 68th minute, when he sustained an injury and had to be substituted. He didn't offer any details on the extent of the left thigh injury immediately after the match.
Borussia's disappointing performance in the Football league this season led to concerns about head coach Gerardo Seoane's position. Despite recruiting players like Stöger and Kleindienst, they struggled, with Seoane criticizing the team's technical errors and sloppy passing.
Following their victories against Borussia, Kevin Stöger and Keven Schlotterbeck have now faced each other in the Football league, with Schlotterbeck scoring the winning goal for Augsburg.
