DFB Cup: There is a good explanation for Gladbach's landing accident

Stand: 20h12 | Reading time: 4 minutes

reThe Gladbach fans were nice to their team. After Borussia's bitter 0: 5 (0-2) match against Bayer Leverkusen at the DFB Cup, applause took place and no whistle was given to the players before the northern curve – despite the harsh fighting, despite the new trophy against local rivals. failed the previous year. The fans of the foals finally had some good weeks in which Mönchengladbach beat FC Bayern Munich 3-0 and was even in second place in the Bundesliga.

But euphoria finally disappeared after the rainy Wednesday night, Borussia suffered a dismal landing. 1: 8 goals are in the balance of the last two official matches, before the bankruptcy of Leverkusen on Friday, there was already a first hurdle in Freiburg (1: 3). Dieter Hecking had prepared his free Sunday in addition. First, Gladbacher coach at Wontorra in the morning in Munich, then he went to the other side of the Republic, Bremen, to watch Werder against Leverkusen in the stadium and watch the opponents of the cup on the spot, Bremen with 6: 2 swept from their own stadium.

What Hecking saw, he should perhaps have warned – because Bayer played Gladbach and Bremen. Heiko Herrlich, the Leverkusen coach, tactically resumed his team just in time after a weak start to the season, defending a three-string strategy and counterattack. This struck Bremen in the marrow – and Wednesday also the Gladbacher who ran into their ruin.

The offensive trio of Leverkusen is unleashed

Borussia made the match, but 35 meters before Bayer's goal was usually over. Later, Gladbach could not take advantage of his chances, while Leverkusen kept his opponent repeatedly. Above all, his offensive trio played as raging. Kevin Volland scored seven goals in Bremen and Monchengladbach, Julian Brandt in six and Karim Bellarabi in five.

The Hecking team, on the other hand, revealed new and old problems for one main reason: the loss of new striker Albadane Plea, linked to an injury. The Frenchman had to be replaced at half-time in Friborg. Pléa was hired this summer as the cornerstone of the new Gladbach game. He was made to play less predictably than in the previous second period, said Hecking at Pleas' performance.

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And indeed, the new system adapted to Pléa with three offensive players has worked well for a long time – but without the French to 23 million, this is no longer the case. The league match against Leverkusen Gladbach had won the first game of the season without Pléa being always 2-0, but that was also a chance because Bayer had offered many formidable opportunities in the initial phase.

In the cut, however, flanks rushed without takers into the opponent's penalty area, and there was a missing player able to place the ball in the center once. In addition, Pléa regularly works in his missions, including on the defensive, which has recently proved very fragile. The entire team won Wednesday only 38% of its duels.

"It's twice bad"

"Of course, we imagined it differently: until 0: 2, it was still pretty neat, unfortunately we could not go to the Anschlusstor, which I can not to accept is the 0: 4, the 0: 5, Leverkusen, so invite to score.That hurts, so it was a used cup evening, "said Hecking.

Unlike his Leverkusen counterpart: "We have now defeated two teams who had already played an outstanding first round – and that twice," says Herrlich. But he knows his team now at home against TSG Hoffenheim (Saturday at 15:30, Sky, WELT Liveticker) must restock. Julian Nagelsmann's team is not likely to be forced to take possession of the ball, Herrlich needs a plan B.

Just like Hecking. Against Fortuna Dusseldorf, coach Gladbacher Sunday (18 hours, Sky, WELT Liveticker) should continue to give up Plea, but still remains favorite with his team as favorite in the duel with the bottom of the table. His striker could come back a week later in a game away against Werder Bremen. Hecking may then be able to add value to his trip to the Weser.