Bundesliga - Schmadtke praises Gladbach mentality after late 2:1 win
Hardly anyone at Borussia Mönchengladbach had expected this three-point haul. When winger and pace player Nathan Ngoumou scored the 2:1 winner against TSG Hoffenheim in the closing stages on Saturday in his unfamiliar role as center forward, the jubilation was unusually high. "That was a very important win today. Of course we had the luck of the game. But compliments on how the team dealt with all the personnel difficulties," said coach Gerardo Seoane after the fourth competitive home win in a row and the leap into the top half of the table.
Sporting director Nils Schmadtke was also impressed by the team's performance. In addition to Julian Weigl and Maximilian Wöber, the two attacking leaders Jordan Siebatcheu and Tomas Cvancara were also absent at short notice. "That wasn't easy. But we showed a good mentality and have grown as a team. The team is showing a very good face," said Schmadtke after the small upswing, which will of course be continued on Tuesday in the DFB Cup round of 16 against VfL Wolfsburg. "But we'll have to see how the personnel situation looks for the first time," explained Borussia's sporting director.
For almost an hour, it was a typical 0-0 game and Hoffenheim, who had not been beaten in six away games, allowed little in defense. A penalty, which Alassane Plea converted after being fouled, seemed to turn the game around after an hour. But it took less than two minutes for Hoffenheim's center forward Wout Weghorst to equalize. "That was a brave penalty, but we came back quickly," said Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma. "So it was a completely unnecessary defeat, especially as we played a completely different game to last week," said the defensive player.
Gladbach were forced to make a few changes a week after the 4-2 defeat at Borussia Dortmund. Florian Neuhaus and Marvin Friedrich returned to the starting line-up for the first time in four games. Coach Gerardo Seoane surprisingly opted for the speedy Ngoumou in the center of attack, who repeatedly posed a threat with his pace.
However, the home side struggled overall against Hoffenheim's compact defense. Gladbach created few scoring opportunities. The best were Rocco Reitz, who shot over the goal from close range and an acute angle shortly before the break, and Plea, whose shot just missed the left post. Ten minutes before the end, Ngoumou was then positioned where a center forward should be after a cross from Luca Netz and confidently slid the ball over the line for the winning goal. "We are grateful and happy that Nathan interpreted this role in the best possible way. He was able to make his mark with his speed. That's why we made this decision," said Seoane.
Borussia Mönchengladbach squad TSG Hoffenheim squad Match statistics
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- Despite his absence due to personnel difficulties, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's Julian Weigl contributed significantly to their team's performances in recent games.
- The mentality of Borussia Mönchengladbach was praised by sporting director Nils Schmadtke after a 2:1 win against TSG Hoffenheim, despite several unexpected absences in their squad.
- In the Bundesliga match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and TSG Hoffenheim, Gerardo Seoane surprisingly chose Nathan Ngoumou to play as the center forward, utilizing his pace and speed to create scoring opportunities.
- Despite allowing little in defense, Hofenheim's compact defense made it difficult for Borussia Mönchengladbach to create scoring chances, and they struggled overall in the game.
- Born and raised in North Rhine-Westphalia, Gerardo Seoane, the coach of Borussia Mönchengladbach, guided his team to a 2:1 win against TSG Hoffenheim, securing a spot in the top half of the table.
- With the absence of their attacking leaders Jordan Siebatcheu and Tomas Cvancara, Borussia Mönchengladbach showed resilience and a good mentality, impressing sporting director Nils Schmadtke.
- In an unfamiliar role as center forward, Nathan Ngoumou scored the 2:1 winner against TSG Hoffenheim, showing his versatility and earning praise from coach Gerardo Seoane.
- Maximilian Wöber, a key player for TSG Hoffenheim, played a crucial role in preventing Borussia Mönchengladbach from scoring, highlighting his importance to the team in the Bundesliga.
Source: www.stern.de
