A look back on 2021: Improved form and an historic night in the cup

Continuing our look back on 2021, our focus now turns to September and October. It was a positive couple of months for the Foals, during which they secured a historic victory over FC Bayern.

ON THE PITCH

After an unfortunate start to the campaign, the Foals gathered some real momentum in September and October. Adi Hütter celebrated his first win as Borussia head coach as they defeated Arminia Bielefeld 3-1 before the Foals climbed closer to the European places with triumphs against Dortmund (1-0) and away to Wolfsburg (3-1, our first victory there for 18 years). Despite suffering small setbacks in the shape of defeats to FC Augsburg and Hertha BSC (both 1-0), the Foals picked up 13 points from seven matches in September and October and reached the last 16 of the DFB-Pokal with a 5-0 victory over FC Bayern München. A further 1-1 draw against Stuttgart and a 2-1 victory against VfL Bochum meant that Adi Hütter remained undefeated at home during his tenure so far. 

MEMORABLE MOMENTS 

A historic night at BORUSSIA-PARK. Borussia beat Bayern in the DFB-Pokal for the first time in history – and how! Three up after just 21 minutes, and the scoreboard read 5-0 come full time. Gladbach’s largest margin of victory over FC Bayern in history – there aren’t enough superlatives to truly describe the events of the 27th October. “It was an amazing evening and an amazing performance from the team, especially in the first half when they played some exhilarating football. It’s certainly a type of game you dream about, but you never actually think it will happen in real life,” said director of sport Max Eberl. 

OFF THE PITCH 

• Borussia loaned Famana Quizera to Academico Viseu. 

• It was the 50th anniversary of “the infamous Büchsenwurf” incident, which took place during Gladbach’s 7-1 victory over Inter Milan in the European Cup Winners’ Cup which was later null and voided due to an opponent being struck by a Coca-Cola can that a spectator had thrown and forcing him to leave the field injured.  

• Prof. Dr. Reiner Körfer was installed as chairman of the supervisory board. 

• The Borussia foundation funded ten projects, donating a total of 53,000 Euro. 

• U17 head coach Hagen Schmidt left Borussia to become head coach of 3. Liga side MSV Duisburg, with Eugen Polanski taking his place. 

• Three youth players were awarded a prize by Porsche for their extraordinary dedication and commitment. 

IN WORDS: 

ADI HÜTTER: “I cannot remember a team of mine playing as well as that ever before.”