Rose blames departure announcement for shock Gladbach defeat

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Moenchengladbach coach Marco Rose blamed Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat against strugglers Mainz on the announcement earlier this week that he will take charge of Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund next season.

Gladbach face Manchester City in Budapest on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The shock loss capped a turbulent week for Gladbach after it was confirmed on Monday that Rose will leave at the end of the season.

“It was a defeat that I put my hand up to, that I’m responsible for,” Rose admitted.

Karim Onisiwo’s opening goal was cancelled out by Lars Stindl’s equaliser for Gladbach before replacement Kevin Stoeger scored second-bottom Mainz’s late winner.

“The defeat is extremely annoying,” Gladbach midfielder Jonas Hofmann told Sky.

Rose acknowledged that confirmation Dortmund are actioning a release clause in his contract had caused “a lot of unrest” at Gladbach.

“I know that it won’t get any quieter around here,” he admitted, but insisted his job is to instill “confidence and calm” in his team before the match against Man City.

Saturday’s defeat leaves Gladbach eighth in the Bundesliga table, nine points off the Champions League places.

The home leg against Pep Guardiola’s Premier League leaders has been moved from Moenchengladbach to Budapest due to Germany’s Covid-19 travel restrictions.