Borussia Mönchengladbach return from the international break still without a point after four Bundesliga matches, and Alexander Blessin will begin his work with the derby at 1. FC Köln on Sunday.
Key takeaways
- Gladbach have lost all four league games, with a goal difference of minus 10.
- Eugen Polanski was dismissed after the third matchday, despite his long connection to the club.
- Jan-Moritz Lichte took charge for one game before Blessin was appointed.
- President Rainer Bonhof has backed sporting director Rouven Schröder to manage the reset.
- Blessin’s first match on the touchline will be Sunday’s 15:30 derby in Cologne.
Bonhof backs the coaching change
Gladbach’s season has moved quickly from a poor opening to a change in the dugout. The club acted after three league fixtures, ending Polanski’s spell before Lichte handled one match as interim coach.
Bonhof said the opening weeks were far below the club’s internal expectations. He described the decision to remove Polanski as painful, particularly because the former coach is “a genuine Borussia man”. The president said the matter was discussed thoroughly within the club before a collective decision was made that a change was required.
The 74-year-old also expressed confidence in Schröder. Bonhof said the sporting director has the experience to judge the position realistically, address issues critically inside and outside the club, provide leadership and remain calm.
Gladbach’s sporting department, Bonhof added, is working in a measured and focused way to change the direction of the season.
Blessin starts with the Cologne derby
Blessin, 53, has been hired to bring stability and deliver Gladbach’s first Bundesliga points. His debut comes after the three-week international break, away to Köln in a fixture carrying its usual local weight.
Bonhof expects the new coach to bring both energy and a defined footballing approach. He has found Blessin engaged and communicative in his first days at the club, while stressing that the squad must now carry out the demands of their new manager.
The immediate task is simple: halt a four-match losing run and give the season its first positive result in Cologne.
