Mönchengladbach (dpa) – Marco Rose has now also identified a head problem at the wrong time. Before the important Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, Borussia Mönchengladbach is frustrated. The flood of last-minute goals has almost become a curse.
«We are all human. It may also play a role for one or the other, ”admitted Gladbach coach Rose after the annoying and superfluous 1: 1 (1: 0) against FC Augsburg, who were outnumbered for 25 minutes.
Rose thus expressed the suspicion that the goals conceded late – in this case by Daniel Caligiuri’s equalization in the 88th minute – had long since settled in the minds of his professionals. “I said a few weeks ago that there are no patterns. You can already see a pattern, ”Rose said. “It’s like that, and we can’t ignore it, that we’re giving back points that would have done us good.”
For the fifth time in the still short season, Borussia conceded a late equalizer. “It’s been a painful learning process now because we donate and give away a lot,” ranted Rose. In the Bundesliga, last year’s fourth dropped six points because it was only 1-1 at home against Union Berlin, VfL Wolfsburg and now also against Augsburg, despite the lead and several chances for an earlier decision. All equalizer hits fell in the last ten minutes.
In the spectacular 3: 4 before the international break in Leverkusen, there was no point at all despite leading twice. The decisive fourth Leverkusen goal fell in the final phase (82nd). “We definitely have to turn it off. It can no longer be a coincidence if it happens so often, ”scolded goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Last season, the Rhinelander were the leaders with 18 points after eight match days. Now they are at the same point in time with only twelve points – six points less than last year – outside the European Cup ranks. With the mortgage of the points lost at home, the Champions League qualification, which Rose once again targeted as a goal, should be difficult.
As absurd as it sounds in view of the strong performances in the Champions League so far: Even there, the leaders in Group B could almost be through after three games. Also in the premier class the Borussia gave away possible victories in the 2: 2 at Inter Milan by equalizing in the 90th minute and in the 2: 2 against Real Madrid by conceding two goals in the 87th and 90th + 3 minutes.
In view of the class of the opponents, that was still tolerable. But Rose now also included these goals in his analysis. «In certain situations, we just become passive for a moment, especially on the wing, and allow crosses. Even if you are ten or a winger, you have to go back there too, ”said the 44-year-old.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201122-99-421548 / 2
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