Gladbach lose derby to Köln as Blessin faces steep rebuilding task

Gladbach lost the derby against Köln, leaving Alexander Blessin to begin his tenure in charge of the team in a difficult position. His first match as the new coach was against the local rivals. The defeat extends the club’s struggles and leaves Blessin with a substantial rebuilding job.

He took over after Eugen Polanski and Jan-Moritz Lichte, who had also ended their spells with disappointment. Blessin had only met several key players in the days before the trip to Köln. Franck Honorat, striker Tim Kleindienst and defender Ko Itakura were among those unavailable through injury.

Köln’s win was shaped by Saïd El Mala. Isak Johannesson’s spectacular strike and El Mala’s decisive goal made the difference. For Gladbach, the loss also exposed the gap between the teams in a match-changing talent: the club does not have an El Mala of its own. Köln, meanwhile, had a hero worthy of the derby occasion.

Germany international El Mala scored after what he described as a difficult spell. “I’ve had a bit of a rough patch these past few weeks,” he said after his first goal since the opening day. He also said he had “never been so fired up for a game”, adding: “What sets me apart is that I don’t give up and I keep going.”

Blessin must now get his defensive principles across, particularly to his defenders, and try to put Gladbach back on track. The club are at the foot of the mountain, and the climb has become steeper after Union’s win against Elversberg. In an era of reduced means, Blessin may not be the coach Gladbach fans dreamed of, but he could be the right fit for the club for now.