Borussia Mönchengladbach are in a state of shock ahead of their Bundesliga away game at SC Freiburg this Saturday. Coach Eugen Polanski announced a tough video analysis session on Tuesday following a surprising 4-3 home defeat to second-tier promotion candidates SV Elversberg, as reported by Bild Sport.
Polanski's team, with the 40-year-old being the youngest coach in Gladbach's history, used the free Monday after the debacle. Training resumed on Tuesday morning under the watchful eyes of club boss Rainer Bonhof (74) and presidium member Hannelore Kraft (64). For SC Freiburg, currently second in the table with two wins from two games, the match is another chance to confirm their strong early-season form. The Breisgau club has scored five goals and conceded only one so far this campaign.
Why is Polanski talking about shock therapy?
The Gladbach coach left no doubt about the seriousness of the situation after the match. "We could talk about many things that are very, very positive, that we have changed. The appearance, the footballing aspects, the mentality," Polanski said. "But when we see the mistakes and the goals we concede, then we don't need to talk about anything else." He described the defensive weakness as "real madness" and stressed: "This can only be dealt with through shock therapy, with the videos and scenes from the match." This analysis will shape their preparation for the game against a strong SC Freiburg side, whose current standings are impressive.
What personnel problems does Gladbach have?
The visiting team's squad situation is tense. Nicolas Kühn, the 27-year-old loanee from Como, had only been a late substitute against Elversberg. He then suffered a muscle injury during a subsequent reserve team training session and will now be out for weeks. Yukhym Konoplia (27) is also unavailable. The Ukrainian is missing with a torn inner ligament in his knee and is not expected back until after the October international break.
There is positive news regarding Daiki Hashioka, however. The 27-year-old Japanese defender returned to team training following a cervical spine injury. Twenty-one-year-old Zento Uno also took part in Tuesday's session. For SC Freiburg, Florent Muslija and Rihito Yamamoto remain sidelined, as shown in the club's current injuries list.
How is Freiburg preparing for the match?
While crisis grips Gladbach, SC Freiburg can approach the fixture with great confidence. Christian Streich's team has had a perfect start to the season and sits in second place with six points from two games. The next home game at the Europa-Park Stadion offers a chance to continue the run. The full schedule of upcoming fixtures can be found in the club's fixtures list.
The opponents from Mönchengladbach arrive in Freiburg as 17th in the table and are in desperate need of points. The defensive frailty Polanski addressed could be an invitation for the attack-minded Freiburg side. With five season goals already, they have proven their efficiency. Detailed performance data for all players is available in the team's stats.
The Bundesliga match between SC Freiburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 15:30.
