Gladbach players head home irritated after conceding late goal
Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Jonas Hofmann reported experiencing a "rollercoaster ride of emotions" following his side's wild 2-2 draw with Inter Milan in the foals' long-awaited return to the UEFA Champions League after four years.
Die Borussen blew a lead shortly after they went ahead late. Only one point was obtained when three were within reach.
For approximately six minutes, it appeared as if Gladbach trainer Marco Rose would collect all three points in his Champions League debut. Germany's foals had overcome a 0-1 deficit via a Ramy Bensebaini penalty and a Jonas Hofmann VAR-approved goal.
Die Borussen blew a lead shortly after they went ahead late. Only one point was obtained when three were within reach.
Inter's Romelu Lukaku ensured it wasn't to be. The Belgian international scored his second goal of the fixture at the stroke of injury time. A long VAR check to confirm Hofmann's goal caused great anxiety amongst the team's ranks. The prolonged review actually lasted slightly longer than the Gladbach ranks.
"Perhaps we pushed ourselves too hard after the 2-1," Hofmann lamented when speaking to German broadcaster DAZN after the match, "I'm extremely bitter right now."
The foals might consider themselves lucky to have obtained a point at all. The two tallies came on the squad's only to real chances of the game. "We didn't locate the spaces and didn't play courageously enough," the new national team player conceded.
Nationalmannschaft colleague Matthias Ginter also expressed frustration. "It's annoying that you get a 2-2 in 90th minute via a set-piece that was absolutely avoidable," Ginter griped. Marcus Thuram ended up losing the decisive aerial duel against Inter substitute Alessandro Bastoni that led to the equalizer.
Ginter pretty much summed up the mood of the team as they head back to Germany for a fifth round encounter against last-place Mainz. "In two or three hours, we'll be able to live with a point," the central defender remarked, "at the moment it doesn't feel so good."