Marco Rose’s Tactical Revolution at Borussia Mönchengladbach: In-Depth Analysis (2019-20)
Introduction: A New Era at Borussia Mönchengladbach
After two highly successful seasons at Red Bull Salzburg, German coach Marco Rose returned to his homeland in 2019 to take charge of Borussia Mönchengladbach. His arrival signaled a fresh tactical approach for the club. Rose quickly made his mark, guiding Gladbach into the Bundesliga title race—something the Foals had not experienced in years. With a rise in win percentage to 54%, compared to predecessor Dieter Hecking’s 43%, Rose demonstrated both immediate impact and long-term potential. This article explores how Rose’s tactical innovations transformed Borussia Mönchengladbach during the 2019-20 season.
The Tactical Foundation: Evolution to the 4-2-3-1 System
Rose’s Gladbach often lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a shift from the previous regime’s preference for a diamond midfield or a 4-3-1-2. This new system emphasized attack-minded full-backs, dynamic midfield partnerships, and versatile attackers. Flexibility, however, was a hallmark—Rose was not afraid to switch to three-at-the-back or revert to shapes used during his Salzburg tenure if the situation demanded.
A critical advantage of Rose’s approach is the enhanced role of full-backs. Stefan Lainer, who excelled under Rose at Salzburg, and Oscar Wendt frequently pushed high up the flanks, providing width and supporting the attack. Their timing and work rate allowed Gladbach to overload wide areas and pose consistent threats in transition.
Key Players and Roles: Mainstays in the Starting XI
While Rose rotated his squad to maintain freshness and tactical unpredictability, a core group of players remained indispensable:
– **Yann Sommer (Goalkeeper):** The Swiss international featured in every Bundesliga match, providing experience and quality distribution in build-up.
– **Matthias Ginter & Nico Elvedi (Centre-backs):** Developed into one of the league’s most reliable defensive pairings, combining physical presence and composure on the ball.
– **Stefan Lainer (Right-back) & Oscar Wendt (Left-back):** Both full-backs were integral to Gladbach’s attacking and defensive phases, frequently involved in launching and supporting attacks.
– **Denis Zakaria & Christoph Kramer (Defensive Midfielders):** This duo offered balance in midfield—Zakaria’s athleticism paired well with Kramer’s tactical intelligence. Occasionally, Florian Neuhaus or Laszlo Benes featured in advanced roles as the central playmaker.
– **Marcus Thuram (Forward/Winger):** The French forward quickly adapted to Bundesliga football, showcasing versatility by playing as either a central striker or as a wide forward cutting in. After a successful season in Ligue 1, Thuram’s impact increased under Rose, contributing multiple goals and assists alongside Alassane Plea and Patrick Herrmann in attack.
Constructing Attacks: Advanced Build-Up and Positional Play
Mönchengladbach’s approach to building from the back focused heavily on involving the full-backs and utilizing width to engineer passing lanes. Typically, the center-backs would split wide, and a defensive midfielder—often Zakaria or Kramer—would drop in, forming a diamond pattern at the back to facilitate ball progression. If direct forward progression was stifled, goalkeeper Sommer was comfortable recycling possession and initiating fresh build-up phases.
In advanced areas, the full-backs frequently moved up to join the midfield line, sometimes even pushing beyond the central midfielders. This tactical choice stretched opposition defenses, opened space for attacking midfielders, and enabled intricate passing sequences out wide. Gladbach often opted for quick cut-backs or low crosses into the box, leveraging the positioning of their advanced midfielders and number 10s to exploit gaps rather than relying on traditional high crosses.
Defensive Organization: Aggressive Pressing from the Front
A cornerstone of Rose’s tactical philosophy at Gladbach was aggressive, coordinated pressing—carried out primarily in a man-oriented fashion rather than zonal systems. The attacking midfielder (often Neuhaus or Benes) coordinated with the striker to press opposing defenders, forcing them into wide channels. The wingers inverted into central areas to complete a pressing diamond, while full-backs marked their direct opponents to restrict passing options. Defensive midfielders actively engaged their central adversaries, ensuring that opponents found it difficult to play through the center.
Unlike teams that try to force opposition backward or centrally, Gladbach’s press funneled play toward the flanks, where they could trap opponents and regain possession swiftly. This system contributed to the team recovering the ball frequently, although it occasionally resulted in disciplinary issues, as evidenced by a relatively high number of bookings compared to their possession statistics.
Sharp Transitions: Immediate Impact After Regaining Possession
Transition play was another area where Rose’s Gladbach excelled. The team was conditioned to attack rapidly upon regaining the ball, employing a mix of short, vertical passes and direct dribbling. The fluid movement of forwards like Plea, Herrmann, and Thuram allowed frequent positional interchanges—Plea might drift wide to create space for Thuram’s central runs, leaving defensive lines disorganized.
Gladbach consistently ranked among the Bundesliga’s top sides for completed dribbles, illustrating the collective ability to break lines and drive at retreating defenders. The midfield pairing also played a vital role—Kramer and Zakaria frequently won duels and initiated swift counters, giving Gladbach a dual threat of short passing build-up and devastating direct runs.
While Gladbach’s counter-attacks often led to scoring opportunities, the primary objective was not necessarily to maximize goals from counterplay, but to open space and give their talented attackers freedom to exploit disorganized defenses.
Conclusion: Lasting Impact and Signs of Progress
Although Borussia Mönchengladbach’s bid for the Bundesliga title eventually lost some momentum, Marco Rose’s influence was unmistakable. The team spent several matchdays at the summit of the league table and played some of the most dynamic football in Germany. Rose’s tactical versatility, emphasis on full-back involvement, quick transitions, and high-intensity pressing helped Gladbach return to relevance among the Bundesliga elite. With further squad development, the club appeared ready to take the next step toward sustained title contention.
Mönchengladbach’s 2019-20 campaign under Marco Rose was a display of modern, adaptable football—balancing defensive grit and attacking intent, and offering a blueprint for clubs seeking to implement contemporary tactical principles.
