Borussia Monchengladbach Sack Eugen Polanski as Dortmund's Karetsas Hospitalised After Villarreal Collapse
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Borussia Monchengladbach dismissed head coach Eugen Polanski on 13 September, a day after a 0-5 defeat at SC Freiburg left the club with zero points and a 3-12 goal difference after three matches — the worst start in the club's history, according to Sportschau and Eurosport. Sporting director Roland Virkus's side had extended Polanski's contract to 2028 as recently as November 2025; Jan-Moritz Lichte, who joined the club over the summer from Manchester City's youth setup, has taken over as interim head coach.
Borussia Dortmund's 18-year-old winger Konstantinos Karetsas was substituted and taken to hospital after suffering circulatory problems in the 27th minute of Dortmund's Champions League opener against Villarreal, according to Kicker. Dortmund said the Greece youth international was "doing relatively well" under the circumstances, though the club added that the cause remained unclear even after further examinations; Dortmund went on to win the match 3-2.
Bayern Munich beat Bodo/Glimt 5-0 in their Champions League league-phase opener on 10 September at the Allianz Arena, with Jamal Musiala scoring in his first start since collapsing twice the previous month, according to ESPN.
Bayern also opened their season with a 2-1 win over Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup on 22 August, giving Vincent Kompany's side an early marker over their closest domestic rivals before the league phase began.
Transfer and squad notes
Dortmund's medical staff continue to monitor Karetsas following his hospital examinations, with no definitive explanation yet given for the circulatory episode that forced his early withdrawal against Villarreal.
What it means for the league
Gladbach's coaching change so early in the season reflects how quickly patience ran out after a historically bad start, putting pressure on Lichte to stabilise results immediately. Dortmund's win over Villarreal was overshadowed by the Karetsas scare, a reminder of how player welfare concerns can cut through even a positive result. Bayern's form across both the Supercup and their Champions League opener, including Musiala's return from a health issue, suggests Kompany's side remain the team to catch domestically and in Europe.