Gladbach: Goal threats across the pitch

Berlin- Borussia Mönchengladbach announced last week they have retained the services of a central figure for the foreseeable future. But this wasn’t about a player, rather their sporting director, Max Eberl, who took over the role in 2008 after ending his playing career with the Foals. The 43-year-old’s tenure has seen him help Gladbach reach European competition and fans were delighted when he signed a contract until 2022 before last weekend.

Whether or not the sporting director will see his club make Europe again this season is still unclear. To have a say in the race for the European placings, Gladbach could do with a win against the Hertha this week. We have rounded up all the key facts on what Pal Dardai’s men could face this week.  

Sporting outlook:  Under Dieter Hecking, brought in to replace André Schubert during the winter break, the five time German champions have collected 17 points from 10 games, the same as they amassed in the whole of the first half of the season. Coming back from the winter break in 14th place, the Foals have had the best start to the second half of a season in 44 years and currently sit tenth, four points behind sixth place, and four points clear of the relegation play-off place. The team have gelled quickly with their experienced Bundesliga coach. “Under Hecking we have found our shape again and formed a good structure. Everyone know exactly what to do and when,” explained left back Oscar Wendt, heaping praise on the new boss: “He gets everyone pumped up for the games.”

The connections: The two clubs have been linked in the past few years. The first is Raffael. The Brazilian came to Hertha in 2008 from FC Zurich, scoring 39 times (providing 31 assists) in 163 games for BSC until his move to Dynamo Kiev in 2012. One reunion that won’t take place on Wednesday is one with Ibrahima Traoré. The former Hertha mitfielder has been out since the end of November and continues to work his way back to full fitness in the under-23s. The third former Hertha man now at Gladbach is Nico Schulz, who moved to Gladbach in 2015. Going in the opposite direction was Sinan Kurt, who grew up in the Gladbach youth team before moving to Bayern München and then on to Hertha. 

Focus on the foals: The Fohlenelf have strength in numbers, with goal threats coming from across the pitch. Behind top scorer Lars Stindl (7 goals, 5 assists), there is Raffael (6 goals, no assists), Thorgan Hazard (5 goals, 3 assists). Two regulars will move next year, Andreas Christiansen will return to his parent club Chelsea while Mahmoud Dahoud will transfer to Borussia Dortmund. “It’s a shame because yet another talent we have nurtured will leave us. “We at Gladbach think he’s moving to the wrong Borussia,” said Eberl. 

The Head2Head: Two clubs full of tradition have met on several ocassions. 62 meeting (57 in the Bundesliga) have seen 22 wins for Hertha with 14 draws. The Foals also have the upper hand in the cup, with a 3-2 record. Pal Dardai’s men showed their strength at home in the reverse fixture this season, as Salomon Kalou’s hat trick made the difference in a 3-0 for Hertha. 

The view on Hertha: Borussia still harbour hopes of reaching the Europa League next season. Dieter Hecking confirmed that by looking ahead to Wednesday's game with a chuckle: "Who knows. Perhaps after the game we'll have a three point advantage to sixthteenth place and a three point deficit to third place."