It was about coming to terms with the past and at the same time setting off into a future with new perspectives.

After the days of shock over the emotionally based resignation of the popular sports director Max Eberl, the Borussia Mönchengladbach team had a duty to face the everyday challenges of the Bundesliga with renewed vigour.

The "colts" who slipped into the fight against relegation only managed halfway through the 1-1 draw at Arminia Bielefeld, and yet after weeks of sporting disappointments and the pain of separation after Eberl's "I-must-out" farewell, the relief to have at least asserted itself in the unbeaten East Westphalia for six games.

Also thanks to robust executives like national player Jonas Hofmann, who called on Saturday to look forward together.

"Of course we miss Max," he told Sky TV, "but now we have to get over the subject.

Max is gone, we have to focus on ourselves and the club.

For us as a team, Max doesn't move anything on the pitch, nobody thinks of him."

Passionate fight for victory

Arminia, who were fighting like Borussia to stay in the league, felt the new resilience that resulted in a now-only-right mentality on Saturday after East Westphalia took the lead through Serra's remarkable 17-meter flick in Arjen Robben style (19th minute).

The Gladbach team got back on their feet immediately and equalized with Plea's header just above the Alm lawn (38').

The 1:1 reflected until the end the equal balance of power between two teams that, each in their own way, passionately fought for victory in this fast-paced duel: Bielefeld with more power and counterattack quality, Gladbach with more skill and combination football.

In the end, Arminen were happy to have extended their series of unbeaten games and Borussia were relieved to have made the "step forward", as goalkeeper Yann Sommer, once again excellent, described the day's earnings after his 250th Bundesliga game.

What was still missing was the coolness at the end in the face of a dominant second half without a great opportunity to win.

"It is extremely important that we stay together," Sommer warned other Gladbach community works.

Only trainer Adi Hütter complained quietly about the small daily yield.

"If we had played the counterattacks better, we would have left the pitch as deserved winners."

Arminia's coach Frank Kramer preferred to see the big picture and advocated for the fans: "The game offered everything the spectator wanted to see.

We'll take the point and we can be proud of that."