Borussia Mönchengladbach Interim Coach Reflects on Draw Against Bayer Leverkusen

Performance Assessment

Eugen Polanski, the interim head coach of Borussia Mönchengladbach, expressed a sense of satisfaction with his team’s display after their 1-1 draw against Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Sunday. BMG’s sporting director, Roland Virkus, has indicated that Polanski is under consideration for the head coach position currently open following the dismissal of Gerardo Seoane. The 39-year-old took full advantage of this opportunity.

Coach’s Confidence in Players

“Before the match, I urged the players to have faith in themselves,” Polanski shared in a post-match interview with DAZN. “This was crucial. It took about ten to fifteen minutes for them to show that confidence on the field. After that, we adhered to our game plan effectively. Defensively, we proved to be tough opponents, had solid passing sequences, and created promising scoring chances.”

Polanski noted, “With a bit of luck, we might have clinched the win,” while referring to Jens Castrop’s disallowed goal in the 23rd minute. He remarked, “In the Regionalliga, that goal would have been valid. I ended my playing career in 2018, before VAR came into play, and I’m quite pleased about that. Now, I must endure this situation.”

Emotional Reflections

Although Polanski appeared a bit raw after the match due to Haris Tabakovic’s late equalizer, which impacted him emotionally, he managed to present a more refined demeanor during the post-match press conference.

Match Strategy and Player Roles

“Everyone adhered to our game strategy,” he said. “The in-game coaching dynamic differs from the Regionalliga, yet I’m thankful that our substitutes made a contribution that led to the equalizer. I’m pleased we scored. The specific players I brought on, and the system changes, weren’t significant.”

Polanski added, “I didn’t have much time to contemplate the match strategy. At the core, it’s about the fundamentals of football. Many of the players have versatility in their positions. It’s all about sending them out there with confidence.”

Highlighting Young Talent

During the press conference, Polanski was asked about Charles Herrmann, a player he promoted from the BMG II squad, who took the corner that led to the equalizer in injury time. When asked why the 19-year-old was assigned corner-taking duties in his Bundesliga debut, Polanski replied, “Charles has sufficient experience taking corners, and I believed in him to execute it at this level. We practiced this with him on Friday. I expect professional players to know how to handle corner situations.”

Open Opportunities for All Players

In response to a question regarding Florian Neuhaus’s situation on the team, Polanski stated, “My door is always open to all players. Every match requires ten players on the field, and each individual has an opportunity to claim their spot.”