Borussia Mönchengladbach's 4-2-3-1
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a modern and young team and they will be able to go to the UEFA Champions League next season. They haven’t world class players but they try to do something.
They have big squad, so Marco Rose uses different players many times. But game plan hasn’t changed much. They usually play with 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-2-1-2 formation, especially 4-2-3-1 last matches. Sometimes Marco Rose chooses 3 defense players but it’s not their normal line up but it doesn’t mean it’s not important. Some important matches (for example against Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and Roma) he used that formation. In this article, I will explain their 4-2-3-1 line up.
I used these players for my first eleven because when Rose plays with 4-2-3-1 formation, he used most of these players.
Firstly let’s have a look at their goalkeeper. Yann Sommer is their goalkeeper. He has amazing reflexes and he can save many shoots in front of the goalpost. Also, his feet are not bad and he can comfort his teammates when they try to make game in the defense.
In this season, in the Bundesliga matches, his save percentage is %74,3 and his pass completion percentage is %82,2. For a comparison, 2019’s best goalkeeper Alisson’s save percentage is %78,8 and pass completion percentage is %85,8. You see there is not a big difference.
In the set attack, full backs come to wings for support attack, Zakaria stays Neuhaus’ back and Neuhaus supports forwards and Thuram, Plea and Embolo chances their positions amongst themselves. All these moves happen in a regularly system.
Bensebaini doesn’t support attacks like Lainer because Lainer’s attacking abilities are better than him. In the league this season, Lainer is 6th about xA stat with 3.9 in his team and also in the key passes stat he is 4th with 1.2 per 90 minutes.
When Lainer comes to right wing, Ginter is becoming right back, Elvedi is becoming right stopper and Zakaria is closing right midfield. So, they want to keep in the save their defense line’s right. Because they know Lainer plays like a right winger in the set attack.
Normally, if one full back comes to wing for support attack, naturally, team defense line is close to him. But in Mönchengladbach Lainer’s attacking abilities are better than Bensebaini’s attacking abilities. So defense line knows this and take positions according to Lainer.
Neuhaus is a great player and he can make game. His dribbling abilities are good but he is 22 years old and if he can develop himself, he can be a world class player.
Now let’s think if other players are playing, what can happen. If Wendt plays instead of Bensebaini, too many changes do not happen. Their all attacking stats and abilities are similar.
In the midfield, if Kramer plays instead of Neuhaus, Zakaria’s position changes to box-to-box. This change can be good for team because Zakaria’s physical abilities are better than Neuhaus. Sometimes when he uses his high tempo and physic, he can support forward line very well.
Normally, Zakaria’s defensive skills are better than his offensive skills. But he has a high tempo, so Rose makes him play in the box-to-box position. Also he produces 2 dribbling per match and again he is best about this stat in his team. This stat is very important to understand Zakaria’s important. He is not a winger or he hasn’t great dribbling skills but his tempo and physique enable him to go with the ball. And also, his pass completion percentage is %86,7 and he is 3rd in his team among those who play regularly. So, he can help his team about possession of the ball.
If Hofmann plays in the centre midfield, too many things have not changed because his play is like Neuhaus’ play. If Benes plays, they have more offensive players and Benes’ vision can be very effective in the set attack.
In the transition defense to attack, Embolo’s and Thuram’s roles are very important. Because they can keep and transport the ball with their physique and speed. Also they can pass opponent’s players easily because of these abilities.
In this position, Mönchengladbach found counter attack opportunity. Embolo used his physique and passed to Neuhaus. Neuhaus passed to Thuram. Then Thuram passed to Embolo and Embolo used his speed and finished attack with score goal.
If Benes plays instead of Embolo, they will lose Embolo’s physical power but Benes can pass quickly and greatly to Herrmann, Plea and Thuram in the transition plays. If Neuhaus or Hofmann play, similar things happen.
In this position, Embolo took the ball and passed to Benes. Benes saw Thuram and passed brilliantly. Thuram couldn’t score goal but Benes’ pass was first class. Embolo played in the centre forward position this match. Don’t be confused.
I said Thuram, Plea and Embolo change their positions amongst themselves. These changes have rules. Let’s think of a normal set attack. Neuhaus took the ball and he looked his pass options. In this case, usually Embolo runs to the centre forward position and Plea closes midfield like a false 9. And when he comes, he can find enough space because now he is in the between opponent’s defense and midfield lines. Also he can get close to Thuram for attacking in the left wing.
Herrmann is a right winger and he doesn’t play inside too much. He usually uses wing to use his speed. If he changes his position like Thuram, Plea or Embolo, he can’t use his best ability.
If Stindl plays instead of Embolo, it’s not a big change. Both of us can play in the centre forward position, so they know how and when to run into the penalty area and other striker things. But they lost Embolo’s physical extras. But Stindl’s vision is better than Embolo.
If Benes plays, some things can change because he doesn’t also play as a striker. So, his support can’t be like Embolo’s or Stindl’s support. But it doesn’t mean Benes can’t play in offensive midfielder position.
His key passes per match stat is 1.3 and he is 2nd in the team. Also he produced 0,60 goal creating actions per 90 minutes and he is 3rd in his team. His shot creating actions per 90 minutes is 4,91 and he is 3rd in this stat. So absolutely he can be effective in this position but not by using shoots, more passes.
Also, Rose uses Hoffmann and Neuhaus for offensive midfielder position and if they play, they play like Benes because no one is also a striker.
Normally, Thuram isn’t very close to the centre forward but in the crosses, Plea stays back to take the ball because he is not a very strong player, so he needs space in the crosses to take the ball and shot. Thuram’s runs between opponent’s defense line are very good and he can come to centre forward position in the crosses to confuse opponent’s defense line. And of course Embolo comes to centre forward. So as a result, now they have 2 players in the opponent’s centre defense line in the crosses and also if cross comes from right wing, Thuram can pull opponent’s right back and Bensebaini can have free space behind the opponent’s right back to score goal. Also, Neuhaus stays a little behind Embolo’s back and Zakaria stays back in the penalty area.
If Benes is playing in the offensive midfielder position, he doesn’t run into the penalty area like Embolo. He usually stays in the Neuhaus’ beside.
If they want to make game in the back, Zakaria is coming between two stoppers and full backs are going to right and left wings. And they can do it very well. Sometimes they make mistakes but usually they can overcome. Marco Rose usually uses Matthias Ginter and Nico Elvedi for centre stopper position. Both can make game in the defense line.
In the set defense, Herrmann follows opponent’s full back and marks very well but Thuram doesn’t do that like him. He doesn’t mark opponent’s full back well and if opponent wants to attack by using right wing, Mönchengladbach has some problem. But the main reason why it does not seem to contribute enough to Thuram’s defense is because of Herrmann’s very good defense rather than Thuram’s inadequacy in defense.
If Hofmann or Plea plays instead of Thuram, this problem can solve because both of them (especially Hofmann) can better cover left wing.
Bensebaini and Zakaria shines out about defensively. Zakaria covers midfield line and Bensebaini covers defense line. Other players are good too but these players are really good. If we look Bensebaini’s some stats, his percentage of aerial won is %64,6 and he is 2nd in his team. In interceptions per match stat, he is 1st in his team with 2. In this season, Zakaria produced 2.1 tackles per match in the league and he is best about this stat in his team.
If Wendt plays instead of Bensebaini, their defensive strength falls because Wendt’s defensive abilities are not good like Bensebaini. For an example, his interceptions per match stat is only 0,8. But Bensebaini’s stat is 2. You see there is too much difference. If Zakaria doesn’t play, their defensive strength falls seriously. He is midfield’s defensive leader.
In the transition attack to defense, sometimes they have problem because Neuhaus hasn’t high tempo. But if Zakaria plays in his role, they can solve that problem. Zakaria has high tempo and strong physique, so he can come back to support defensive midfielder to stop opponent’s transition.
If Kramer plays in the defensive midfielder position, since he is a slow player, they can’t stop opponent’s transition play easily. And if Neuhaus or Hofmann is playing instead of Zakaria in the box-to-box role, they really have a big problem about this issue.
Herrmann is surprise player in this subject. He is a winger but he helps his defense very importantly and sometimes he stops opponent’s counter attack. Or sometimes if any of teammates can’t come back to defense (for example Lainer), he comes to defense quickly and cover defense line.
In the opponent’s crosses, they have a big deficit. Mönchengladbach’s stoppers Elvedi and Ginter are not strong players and in the opponent’s crosses or set pieces they faced the big problem. They need to combat opponent’s centre forward and if they can’t take the ball back, opponent’s centre forward can find enough space to score goal or create goal chances with his teammates.
But these problems are not all the time about their aerial duels or not being strong players. It’s sometimes about not being careful against opponent’s forward player or the ball. Sometimes they focus on only opponent’s forward player or the ball and they can lose control in the opponent’s crosses. They should look and check at the same time both of them and be ready for crosses.
Bensebaini is very good in the opponent’s crosses. He can protect his position well. He is careful about opponent’s player’s moves.
They are good about pressing in the opponent’s defense line. All the team moves like one piece. But Embolo can sometimes hitch about pressing. In the pressing, his mission is marking opponent’s regista. But sometimes he can’t do his mission and when opponent’s regista is free, opponent can make game.
Lainer is not very strong or long player but he is very aggressive. He wants to take the ball back quickly. He has 162 successful pressures in this season and it is best number in his team.