06.12.2009

Coaches in agreement

When the opposition coach admits after the match that the luckier team won, not the better one, that tells you a lot about how the game went.

Going into yesterday's encounter Borussia boss Michael Frontzeck had said he was tired of hearing that his side had nothing to lose in Munich, repeatedly emphasising that three points were up for grabs even there. The performance at the home of Germany's record championship-winning team confirmed his view, with Borussia needlessly squandering at least one point. Bayern had little answer to Borussia's assured passing game and had their goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt to thank for preventing them from going behind in the first half. The Munich stopper was forced to intervene seven times in the opening 45 minutes, pulling off several last-ditch saves in the process.

At the beginning of the second half the Foals intelligently allowed Bayern control of the game without ever coming under serious pressure. The only thing Borussia could possibly be accused of is failing to play further up the field from the 60 minute mark in an attempt to create further goalscoring opportunities. "Unfortunately these are the minor things that decide the outcome of football matches. I think we gave a very good performance", said Frontzeck in summary. His Bayern counterpart took a similar view. "Gladbach played very well. We struggled and were a bit fortunate to win", Louis van Gaal said in praise of the visitors.

After today's recovery training session the medical department had nothing to report apart from a few minor knocks. The players have been given Sunday off and will resume training on at 1600 CET on Monday.