After the defeat at 1. FC Köln and fan riots, Borussia Mönchengladbach, bottom of the table, is in crisis.
AI-generated summary
Borussia Mönchengladbach is in a deep sporting crisis at the bottom of the Bundesliga table and has already had to change their coach.
Borussia Mönchengladbach continues to stumble through the Bundesliga. Instead of the hoped-for turnaround, the Rhenish derby at 1. FC Cologne became the next low point of the completely messed up season so far.
After the 1:2, the players from the bottom of the table heard all the frustration of their own fans in front of the guest block. Previously, some Gladbach supporters had shocked their own sports director with flares or firecrackers, some of which flew into the stands with Cologne fans, as well as a fight in the stands.
"I'm just as much a family man. I don't want to see any firecrackers flying through the corners where I have the feeling that I could best get hit," said Rouven Schröder. “That’s just not right.”
Managing director Markus Aretz also strongly condemned the behavior of his own supporters. "Throwing firecrackers and firing rockets and endangering people are absolute no-gos and really disappointing behavior. Something like that has no place in the stadium and is absolutely not the image we want to give as a club," he explained. “If anyone has been injured, we apologize in advance.”
After Saïd El Mala's 2-1 winning goal for FC in the 67th minute, supporters clashed at the visitors' block in the upper tier of the Cologne stadium. Gladbach fans kicked plexiglass protective screens out of place between the blocks. They fought with people from Cologne for minutes. Then the police intervened. Referee Florian Badstübner briefly interrupted the game.
In terms of sport, Schröder saw progress despite the fifth defeat in the fifth league game during coach Alexander Blessin's debut as Borussia coach. “I think the team was very, very well adjusted and prepared,” said the 50-year-old. “Nobody wants to hear that from Gladbach today, and yet this performance really gives me courage,” explained midfielder Philipp Sander.
In fact, Gladbach seemed a little more stable defensively than last, conceding fewer than three goals for the first time this season. But the truth is also: For Cologne, who were without two central strikers, an average performance at best was enough to defeat Borussia. Individual mistakes in defense and numerous situations in which Gladbach made the wrong decisions in promising attacks contributed to this.
What was true was the commitment. “I saw a team that lived, that threw everything into 90 + 7,” said Blessin. Although his players were met with displeasure from their own fans, the 53-year-old persuaded the professionals to stay longer in front of the visitors' block. “We just have to show some edge,” said Blessin. “It was extremely important to me to document that the boys threw everything into it.”
He is sure: “If the boys keep working like this, then the points will come.” Sander sees it similarly. "We have a lot of work ahead of us. But I believe in the troops," said the 28-year-old. “We will develop over the next few weeks and score points, I can tell you that.”
But the Gladbachers shouldn't wait much longer. If Borussia loses against second-to-last TSG Hoffenheim next week, the gap to the non-relegation places threatens to become large early in the season. The next opponent is currently three points ahead of Gladbach.
Record national player Lothar Matthäus sees his former club in great distress. “Mönchengladbach will not only play against relegation until the 20th or 25th matchday this year, but until the last matchday,” said the expert, who played for Borussia from 1979 to 1984, on the Sky90 program.
Matthäus continued: “If you have to replace a coach after three or four match days, then of course you have bad results, plus a new start, which of course cannot work from one day to the next.”
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The game against TSG Hoffenheim will decide whether the team stays in the non-relegation zone
Likely · Within days
After serious mistakes in the 2-2 draw against FC Augsburg, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer received a grade of 6 from “Kicker” for the first time in his career. This sparked a public debate about a premature generational change in goal.
The former German international Ilkay Gündogan is hardly used at Galatasaray Istanbul and is frustrated with his role as a reserve. However, the midfielder ruled out a winter move despite media reports to the contrary.

At the top game in Liverpool, Manchester City experienced scorn and ridicule from the opposing fans, who derided the club as “Manchester Cheaty”.
Max Verstappen wins the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of Charles Leclerc, while Kimi Antonelli is on the verge of his first Formula 1 world title with third place.

Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix from pole position to the checkered flag, scoring his first victory at the Marina Bay circuit. The victory brings him closer to the title in the World Championship standings, while media around the world comment on his dominance and the progress of the season.

Liverpool fans greeted Manchester City with an angry, constant protest at Anfield Road due to the club's financial scandal. They showed offensive banners and whistled at the players. Despite the protest, City turned the game around and won 3-0 with goals from Haaland, Doku and Cherki after Gravenberch was shown a yellow-red card.