Polanski to remain Gladbach coach despite Frankfurt fiasco

Eugen Polanski will coach bottom club Borussia Mönchengladbach next weekend in Freiburg, despite an at times farcical team performance on Saturday.

Gladbach trailed 6-0 after 47 minutes against Eintracht Frankfurt before the visitors switched off Gladbach at least partially saved face in a final 6-4 scoreline.

Sporting director Roland Virkus said that "Eugen deserves this fair chance" to be in charge in Freiburg, but he also said on Sport1 TV on Sunday that "we want clarification as soon as possible" on the coaching position.

Polanski takes over

Gladbach parted ways with Gerado Seoane after crashing 4-0 against Werder Bremen in their previous home game.

Under-23 coach Polanski was named interim coach and club bosses said he could get the job on a permanent basis if he and the team delivered.

Polanski started with a credible 1-1 draw at 2024 champions Bayer Leverkusen, but the team then collapsed against Frankfurt to drop to last with two draws and three defeats - which are part of an overall run of 12 Bundesliga matches without victory.

"I was stunned during the match. There's no place for something like that in professional football," Polanski said post-match.

Virkus under fire

The fans meanwhile backed Polanski and turned their frustration against Virkus, who has gone through three coaches during his tenure from February 2022 onwards and is being held responsible for squad planning which however takes place amid fiancial constraints.

‘The coach is gone, so naturally everything is focused on the person in charge of sporting matters. Of course, that's not something to be happy about,’ Virkus said.

"Of course, I question what I could have done differently. We always made decisions collectively. I'll be damned if I complain that we didn't make improvements. Of course, we also have our limits."

Kleindienst won't make earlier comeback

Gladbach have also been hit by injuries, most notably concerning influential captain Tim Kleindienst.

German international Kleindienst is recovering from knee surgery and said he will not move his comeback forward because of the poor results.

"You should approach it in a professional way and not make it depend on the sporting situation of the team. There won't be a quick return. That could also be counterproductive," Kleindienst told Welt TV on Sunday.

Kleindienst is expected back in November and said that "I am making progress. But you never know whether there is a reaction after an operation."

Kleindienst watched Saturday's meltdown from the stands and while insisting that "we won't be relegated" he said that "veryone must understand how dangerous the situation can become."

World Cup hopes

Looking at the national team, he said: "Of course the World Cup is my aim" but that he will need club matches to achieve that goal.

I still have little claim to a place in the national team. After all, I've only played six international matches. I can't say I'm the number one striker," Kleindienst said.