Can Marco Rose mastermind a Bundesliga title at Borussia Monchengladbach?

23/10/19 2181

It has been over four decades since Borussia Monchengladbach last won the Bundesliga title. The 1976-77 season capped off a brilliant nine years of football in Gladbach in which the club won five titles and were the best team in Germany.

A UEFA Cup, German Cup, and Bundesliga 2 title have been the only trophies Borussia Monchengladbach have claimed since those days of big sideburns and floppy hair. However, head coach Marco Rose has brought back memories of the 1970s with is attacking side this season.

Rose’s hiring at Borussia Park over the summer flew under the radar for some football fans. The German coach spent two seasons at Red Bull Salzburg where he turned heads leading the Austrian team deep into the Europa League. He also claimed back to back titles and the Austrian Cup.

The former Hannover 96 player was a target of Manchester United in December 2018 prior to the full-time employment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Their loss has been Borussia Monchengladbach’s gain this season.

Rose is only 43 and brings a youthful exuberance to Gladbach. Considering he was at Red Bull Salzburg for two seasons but was overlooked by RB Leipzig as head coach for this season is strange. Although Julian Nagelsmann has done well, Rose was already in the Red Bull fold.

The German has been highly influenced by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. Rose played under Klopp before moving into coaching at Mainz alongside Martin Schmidt, who is in charge of Augsburg. Whatever Mainz did to create these coaches is pure magic.

Rose has implemented an attacking approach that favours the team’s offensive players including Alassane Plea, Marcus Thuram, and Lars Stindl. For the most part, Rose has had to work with the same players that were at the club last term to get results.

However, there have been some exceptional additions to the team including Thuram, who arrived from France’s Guingamp and Breel Embolo. The duo has combined for seven goals in eight matches.

Embolo’s performances have been exciting under Rose. The striker only scored 10 career goals in three seasons at Schalke. He already has three goals for the Foals. Similarly, Thuram tallied 12 strikes at Guingamp in two seasons, but has four already with Borussia Monchengladbach.

Rose is getting the best out of his players new and old, and that is why he is being looked at by Premier League clubs once more. Everton have been linked with Rose as manager Marco Silva has struggled for results.

Borussia Monchengladbach may have dropped points at the weekend against Borussia Dortmund, but they are still in first place in the Bundesliga. Although level with Wolfsburg, another surprise package, the Foals have the better goal difference courtesy of 15 goals scored and seven allowed.

So far, the Foals’ biggest problem has been beating teams in the league’s top five. RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund have both claimed victories against Borussia Monchengladbach.

If Rose can keep the Foals consistent this season, then perhaps the club will celebrate its first Bundesliga title in 43 years. Regardless of winning the title or not, Rose will be the next big German manager to trade in the Bundesliga for a team abroad.