Borussia Mönchengladbach interim head coach continues to talk up youth prospects Charles Herrmann and Jan Urbich | OneFootball

Borussia Mönchengladbach interim head coach Eugen Polanski looks to have more time to shape his club’s Bundesliga project. If – as has been reported – the 39-year-old will retain his role on the sidelines through the November international break, it will almost surely prove the case that Polanski’s former BMG U23 prodigies will receive more playing time.

Polanski already threw one of the players who served under him at the Gladbach reserves, 19-year-old midfielder Charles Herrmann, into the fire. Herrmann took a corner late in Polanski’s debut match against Bayer Leverkusen and registered an assist on Gladbach’s late equalizer. Commenting on Herrmann’s deployment afterwards, Polanski noted that he felt the youngster to be fully ready.

Herrmann has not logged a single minute since the 1-1 Leverkusen draw, but another player Polanski had been talking up made his Bundesliga debut in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with SC Freiburg. Striker Jan Urbich (21) joined Polanski’s BMG II this past summer from Kickers Offenbach. The youngster has netted 11 goals for the Gladbach reserves thus far this year.

Polanski turned to Urbich off the bench against Freiburg when it was time to sub off lead striker Harris Tabakovic. Urbich was preferred to the vastly more experienced Shuto Machino, who has mostly been filling the No. 9 role in Tim Kleindienst’s absence. The newly promoted forward threw himself into the action during his 21-minute-long relief shift.

“It [playing in the Bundesliga] is every little boy’s dream,” Urbich said of his debut in the mixed zone afterwards. “I’ve worked hard for a long time to get here and I’m overjoyed that the coach gave me the chance. I was a bit nervous, but I think that’s normal in one’s first game.“

“I’ve already noted that some of the youths have a big opportunity here,” Polanski added at the post-match press conference. “But I’m not doing it to placate anyone. Charles and Jan have earned it.“

GGFN | Peter Weis