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The weaknesses of Bayern have not escaped Marco Rose.
"We're already looking," said the coach of Borussia Mönchengladbach after he was confronted with statistics that could certainly be encouraging: The German champions recently fell behind eight times in a row.
In addition, Munich has already conceded 21 goals - more than in over twelve years.
“Of course, we look to see where there are spaces that we can use.
I think everyone knows that Bayern like to defend very much, "said Rose, but then added something that dampened overly high hopes:" They do it that way because it often helps them, of course, theirs To underline dominance with the ball. ”In other words: Munich can afford to play a little more risky than others.
On Friday evening, when Bayern will compete in the Bundesliga evergreen in Mönchengladbach (8.30 p.m., in the sports ticker of the WELT), football Germany will once again look spellbound - with that mixture of hope that Munich might stumble and fear that it probably won't happen after all, or that it could happen, but won't change anything with regard to the championship anyway.
Optimistic and courted: Mönchengladbach's trainer Marco Rose (center)
Source: picture alliance / dpa
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Rose feels the same way.
“Bayern are in a good mood despite the goals they concede.
Nevertheless, we'll do everything we can to beat them again, ”he promised, recalling his team's home game against the industry leader.
Back then, on December 7, 2019, Gladbach was defeated for a long time, then came to a 2-1 victory after a late goal in stoppage time by Ramy Bensebaini.
It was only Hansi Flick's fourth game as a Bayern coach, and it wasn't even clear at the time whether he would be allowed to stay beyond the end of the season.
After the game, Munich were in seventh place in the table, seven points behind the leader: Roses Gladbacher.
At that time it was still possible to dream.
They are currently far from that in Mönchengladbach, where if they win they could probably climb to a Europa League place overnight.
Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig are doing well
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It looks a little different in Leverkusen, which could catch up with a home win over Bremen and a Bayern slip, and especially in Leipzig, where RB expects Borussia Dortmund to be just two points behind Bayern on Saturday.
"If we win the game - I plan to win because we are brave and in a good mood - we will have nine points ahead of a direct competitor for the Champions League places," said Julian Nagelsmann.
Even before the short Christmas break, he had made it clear that he was looking upwards.
He was definitely in the mood for the title fight, so the RB coach: "And the players and the club, I think, have it too."
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The Leipzig team has the most stable team among Bayern hunters.
In addition, due to their investor structure, they are most likely economically able to compensate for the effects of the Corona crisis, which is causing problems for all Bundesliga clubs.
They underlined this with their transfer activities.
With the Hungarian Dominik Szoboszlai (20) it has just been possible to sign one of the greatest European midfield talents for 20 million euros.
The Hungarian, who cannot be used in January due to adductor problems, came from Red Bull Salzburg.
The friendly and business relationships with the releasing club should at least not have been a hindrance.
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In the past, the Dortmund team had often taken offense at such processes as well as the patronage by the beverage multi-media company Dietrich Mateschitz at both RB branches.
But not at the moment.
On the contrary.
"Even if not everyone in Dortmund likes to hear that: I am a fan of what is happening in Leipzig in terms of sport and how the club has developed," said Mats Hummels of "Sport-Bild." There is "good work being done", said the BVB defense chief, and "money alone" is "no guarantee."
These statements were gratefully received on site.
The “Leipziger Volkszeitung” even suspected that Dortmund is now also recognizing “that the roots of tradition grow and flourish on fertile alluvial forest soil”.
It seems more likely that the Dortmunders are currently resisting verbal attacks for various other reasons.
BVB, the number two in Germany according to its own understanding, is currently struggling to get back on track.
Complacency had crept into the team, which finally culminated in the release of coach Lucien Favre.
But even since the takeover by Edin Terzic, there was at least not an immediate improvement.
It wasn't until the 2-0 win over Wolfsburg last weekend that there was again a concentrated performance over long stretches.
“We have higher expectations of ourselves, higher demands, which is why Wolfsburg was the first step in an important month,” said licensed player manager Sebastian Kehl.
“It is important that we create a new performance culture on the pitch.” The performance in Leipzig will therefore be a “yardstick.” If the Dortmund team win and score points in Leverkusen and Gladbach in the coming weeks, they too would be back in the race.
However, someone works in Leipzig who enjoys the highest respect in Dortmund: Nagelsmann.
“Julian has had an impressive coaching career for his age.
It is undisputed that he is a proven football expert who always incorporates innovations into his work, ”said BVB sports director Michael Zorc.
Nagelsmann has always been very popular in Dortmund because of his game idea based on pressing and counter-pressing, but still varied - it just never worked with a collaboration.
“There were existing contracts, so it didn't come about,” said Zorc.
Rose is tired of the subject of change
On the other hand, Zorc doesn't say anything about Marco Rose - because meanwhile, it's an open secret, the Gladbacher is one of Dortmund's preferred candidates for the coming season.
"My respect for Borussia Mönchengladbach and other clubs requires not to say another word about it," Zorc told Sky last Sunday.
Rose himself does not comment on the subject either - not even on the release clause that he should have in the contract.
Gladbach's manager Max Eberl, who is currently taking a one-month break, wants to continue fighting for his coach.
The Bayern pursuers clear their pecking order in many fields.
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