Struggling Gladbach’s new sporting director keeps faith in replacement coach despite another loss

By Canadian Press on October 18, 2025.

BERLIN (AP) — Borussia Mönchengladbach’s new sporting director Rouven Schröder is maintaining faith in interim coach Eugen Polanski despite another disappointing result.

Gladbach lost 3-1 at Union Berlin to leave it bottom of the Bundesliga after Polanski’s fourth game in charge on Friday.

Polanski, who had been coach of the under-23 team, took over when Gerardo Seoane was fired after Gladbach failed to win any of its opening three league games. Gladbach hasn’t won any since, either.

“Basically the confidence is there,” Schröder said of Polanski, whose team has conceded 14 goals in four matches after letting in three more in Berlin.

“The game showed some things that were good, but of course other things that were not good,” Schröder said of lackluster defending.

Schröder, who was celebrating his 50th birthday on Saturday, was appointed Tuesday as the replacement for Roland Virkus, who resigned last month ending an association of 35 years with the club.

Schröder, a former defender, worked briefly as a coach before moving into management with Greuther Fürth, Werder Bremen, Mainz, Schalke, Leipzig, Austrian team Salzburg, and now Gladbach.

Gladbach next faces Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich on Oct. 25.

“This game also starts at 0-0. Totally level,” Schröder said.

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The Associated Press