Jan-Moritz Lichte Takes Interim Charge After Gladbach Dismiss Polanski
Borussia Mönchengladbach have dismissed head coach Eugen Polanski after opening the Bundesliga season with three defeats, culminating in a 5-0 loss away to Freiburg. Assistant coach Tobias Trulsen has also left his role, while Jan-Moritz Lichte will take temporary charge before next Saturday’s home match against Mainz.
Three defeats bring swift change
- Gladbach began the league campaign with a 3-0 defeat at RB Leipzig.
- Their first home fixture ended in a 4-3 loss to newly promoted Elversberg.
- Freiburg then inflicted a 5-0 defeat, exposing the defensive problems and lack of collective control that have marked the opening weeks.
- With no points from three Bundesliga matches, the club ended Polanski’s contract with immediate effect and also removed Trulsen from the first-team coaching staff.
Sporting director Rouven Schröder said the decision followed a gap between encouraging work before the season and the results achieved once the league campaign began. He said Gladbach had seen positive indications during pre-season but had failed to secure the outcomes expected in the Bundesliga.
The club had avoided relegation under Polanski and made several changes to the squad and set-up over the summer, with higher targets established for the new campaign. Those ambitions have quickly been undermined by the three consecutive defeats.
Polanski’s long Borussia connection
Polanski leaves a club with which he has a lengthy association. He came through Borussia Mönchengladbach’s academy and made his Bundesliga debut for the club in 2005. During 54 competitive appearances as a player, former Gladbach coach Jupp Heynckes praised his commitment and willingness to give everything for the side.
In his response to the dismissal, Polanski said Borussia remained his club and admitted that the outcome was especially painful because of his history there. He said the team had been unable to fulfil the ambitious objectives set after last season’s survival, apologised for that failure and expressed hope that the club would recover quickly.
Schröder thanked both Polanski and Trulsen for their work, describing Polanski as a Borussia figure through and through.
Lichte takes interim responsibility
Lichte will oversee training and forthcoming fixtures while Gladbach search for a permanent successor. He will work alongside Markus Gellhaus and the remaining backroom staff.
The immediate task is to produce a response against Mainz at Borussia-Park on Matchday 4. Gladbach’s supporters will expect a marked improvement, particularly after the collapse in Freiburg, as the side seek their first Bundesliga points of the season.
