Gladbach is not making progress, Hofmann is suffering

Dhe whistle could not be ignored, but then the Borussia Mönchengladbach fans quickly changed their minds. “We got in the mood for the derby. It was a little goosebump moment,” he said Jonas Hofmann after the 2:2 (0:0) against Werder Bremen about the dialogue with the fans after the final whistle. One thing is clear: After four games without a win, a win against arch-rivals 1. FC Köln (Sunday, April 2, 3:30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and at DAZN) – otherwise the mood could change.

Because the qualification for a European competition has Gladbach at the latest after the meager home draw against a Bremen trunk eleven probably lost sight of. In the no-man’s-land of the table, there aren’t too many goals left for the rest of the season – so winning the derby is at the top of the wish list, at least for the fans. “There were a few motivating words, they were good and really went down well with everyone,” said Hofmann.

In Cologne what is needed above all is a better exploitation of opportunities. Hofmann, Marcus Thuram and Co. could have scored five or six goals against Bremen – in the end the goals from Thuram (48th) and Florian Neuhaus (73rd) were not enough because Marvin Ducksch (65th and 89th) scored twice had an answer ready. “It feels like shit, we deserved a win,” said sporting director Roland Virkus, and coach Daniel Farke also admitted: “We just don’t take advantage of the opportunities, that’s a general problem.”

It’s true: Borussia have not won in four games since beating Bayern Munich, three of which ended without a goal of their own. “Our performance in the second half of the season was very inconsistent. The game against Bremen reflects the second half of the season – one half wasn’t so good, the other good,” said Virkus. The result is tenth place – beyond good and evil.

After all, the team was self-critical. “We’re professionals who stick to our own noses,” said Hofmann. The team is “always prepared for the games by coach Farke,” said the long-time national player: “It’s bitter when we don’t manage to shoot the ball in. The coach can’t walk onto the pitch himself.” Hofmann himself had prepared five big chances for Borussia against Werder and had a total of ten shots on target.

The fans can’t score goals either, but they can motivate them. “If you look at their faces – they yell everything, and that’s good,” said Hofmann. What was the most important result of the exchange with the curve? “That we go to Cologne as a unit.” Because then it counts.

“I would have loved to have been there”

That him personally national coach Hansi Flick not nominated for the upcoming international matches against Peru and Belgium, Hofmann was disappointed: “I would have loved to have been there,” said the 30-year-old. Flick had his squad for the first internationals a few hours earlier announced since the World Cup preliminary round in Qatar. According to Hofmann, Flick justified his absence by wanting to give younger players a chance: “It’s now about being there again in June,” said Hofmann.

Hofmann didn’t want to see the fact that he could recover better after being knocked out in the forthcoming international break and prepare for the Rhenish derby as an advantage. “No, otherwise I’ll draw a lot of energy out of it. That gives me more of a boost when I’m with the national team,” said the 19-time international.