Kleindienst shines with a brace: Gladbach's defense remains shaky!

Kleindienst shines with a brace: Gladbach's defense remains shaky!

After a thrilling 3-2 win against 1. FC Heidenheim, Borussia Mönchengladbach is breathing a sigh of relief. Striker Tim Kleindienst, who had previously played for the guests, played a key role in the success, but criticized his team's defensive demeanor after the game.

Not only did Kleindienst score two goals in the second half, but he has also developed into an indispensable player for the Foals. With five goals, he has already scored almost half the goals that former top scorer Robin Hack scored last season. “We play better with him,” emphasizes one fan, while another praises his defensive work.

Criticism of the defense

Despite the victory, Kleindienst was not satisfied. “Those two goals conceded were extremely unnecessary,” he said after the game. Both goals conceded by Heidenheim came as a surprise, which Kleindienst saw as a warning signal. He reminded us of how quickly a game can turn around: "After the 2-1 win, we realized we were in. But then we concede another goal like that - everyone knows what football is like," he added.

Gladbach's defense remains a problem child, with a total of twelve goals conceded after seven games. Although this is an improvement compared to the previous year, the problems in defense were exacerbated by failures and the focus on offensive transfers. Experts and fans agree that an urgent solution is needed here.

Müller's joking remarks

The Heidenheim goalkeeper Kevin Müller begrudged Kleindienst his goals, but also noted humorously: "If he had scored the third goal, I would have had to accept a red card. I would have caught him." These words show the difficult relationship between players from different teams, even if they were previously on the pitch together. Müller still felt pleased to have kept Kleindienst at bay, while injuries to other Gladbach players such as Luca Netz and Nico Elvedi did not make the situation any easier.

It also turned out that Kleindienst and his teammates missed some high-profile chances in the final stages of the game that could have mitigated the result, which frustrated him: “The last shot actually pisses me off,” he said. Despite his own success, Kleindienst is self-critical and recognizes the need to work on team performance.

The challenge for new coach Gerardo Seoane in the coming weeks will be to fix the defensive problems while keeping the offense stable. A balanced squad and harmonious team dynamics are essential for the Foals' success this season. The fans hope that the team will find the right answers to their challenges in order to remain competitive in the Bundesliga.