The obstacle is just about as huge as the hope: gargantuan. High-flying Borussia Mönchengladbach take on Manchester City tonight in the Champions group stage, just three days after defeating Bayern in the Bundesliga. "Now we want to beat Man City and get to the Europa League," said captain Granit Xhaka ahead of their last Champions League game this season.
With a win, Borussia would stay third in the group and could start the new year in the Europa League. If they lose, then it’s up to the other game in that group between Sevilla and Juventus. "It’s in our hands and we must do everything we can," said Xhaka.
Borussia go into the game with confidence
The fact that a Juventus win could secure European football is not the only reason to have confidence for Borussia, as at the weekend, they beat unbeaten Bayern 3-1 in the league, and continue their own 12-game long unbeaten run since the last game against City. "We go to City to take something from them. We all want to play in Europe next, and we think we deserve it," said Oscar Wendt.
In the so-called "death group", Borussia have actually been reasonably convincing. After the bad start to the season, third was the realistic goal for Gladbach. "We want to come up trumps in Manchester, and won’t hide," said Yann Sommer.
Manager Pellegrini: "My players are tired."
The opposition’s worries will be giving them even more confidence. "My players are tired. We have to keep playing the same 13 players," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini in light of the number of key players missing with injuries including Yaya Toure, Sergio Agüero and Vincent Kompany. City lost 2-0 away to Stoke City at the weekend and were replaced at the top of the table.
His opposite number André Schubert is the Bundesliga man of the hour. The euphoria in Mönchengladbach is sometimes a little overwhelming for the 44-year-old. "We have to be careful not to get carried away with the result against Bayern," said Schubert. Captain Granit Xhaka concurred: "City will be a very different game from Bayern. We can’t take our foot off the gas."
Borussia will certainly not be scared of any big names after Saturday, and so survival in the group of death looks a serious possibility, even if that is “only” in the Europa League spot. There is no talk of a consolation prize. "Third place would be anything but a disappointment," said sporting director Max Eberl: "We want to achieve our aim of staying in a European competition."
