24th matchday
Leipzig wins at Eberl’s Gladbach reunion
Leipzig celebrated a home win against Mönchengladbach. photo
© Jan Woitas/dpa
Of course, the insulting banners from Gladbach fans were not absent. In the end, however, Leipzig’s sports director Max Eberl is happy about a win against his former club.
Max Eberl squeezed past the barrier and walked briskly into the heart of his former love. After the clear 3-0, RB Leipzig’s head of sport visited the cabin of his ex-club Borussia Mönchengladbach and came back grinning after a few minutes. He didn’t want to talk, he obviously preferred quiet enjoyment.
Eberl had unnecessarily poured oil on the fire before the explosive reunion kicked off. In the TV interview with Sky, he addressed the hostilities of the past few weeks. He never made a secret of the fact that he was ill. “If this topic is negated and it is simply summarized as a change from Gladbach to Leipzig, then that is simply wrong. And that of people who target other people, who run through the cities with iron bars and light fires – I think there is no need for any more comments,” said the 49-year-old.
Gladbach supporters with banners against Eberl
The more than 4,500 Gladbach fans did not miss the opportunity and showed banners with insults against their former symbolic figure in no particular order. “‘I just want to be Max Eberl’. Empty words only for appearances, for us just a bull pig. Miraculous healing by Red Bull – when lies become a business model,” was read on consecutive banners in the middle of the first half. An Oscar with the inscription “Best Actor 2022” was shown.
Gladbach coach Daniel Farke chose a way to approach the issue with a little more prudence. “I can’t tell anyone how they should feel emotionally. In general, I think it’s a topic where it’s good if you don’t keep bringing it up again,” said the 46-year-old. He spoke of high esteem for Eberl and did not see the posters during the game.
Eberl had been treated with abuse in Cologne and against Union Berlin. He had given up his post at the Bundesliga soccer team from Gladbach at the end of January 2022 and moved to Leipzig in the same year. In the run-up, Gladbach Ultras had called for a whistle protest against the RB construct, but the action fizzled out after a few minutes.
RB turns up after plea miss
Gladbach’s performance was passable for a long time, and in the end even Leipzig admitted that they had been brought into the game by the guests. When Alassane Plea missed a penalty in the 53rd minute, the Saxons clicked. “That was the sticking point,” stressed Emil Forsberg. Ultimately, Timo Werner (58th minute), Forsberg (71st, penalty kick) and Josko Gvardiol (80th) made the decision in favor of the favorite in front of 46,687 fans.
Eberl followed what was happening in the stands next to ex-boss Oliver Mintzlaff. The duo had held the general meeting in a hotel before the game. On Sunday there will be a detailed TV appearance by the Leipzig sports director, who deliberately took a back seat the week before the duel with Gladbach.
