Monchengladbach vs Bayern Munich - Granit Xhaka: Foals bosses Andre Schubert and Lucien Favre are chalk and cheese

Posted Friday, December 04, 2015 by PA

Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka says current coach Andre Schubert could not be any more different from his predecessor Lucien Favre.

Gladbach, who face Bayern Munich this Saturday, are currently on a nine-game unbeaten run since Schubert took over from Favre following his resignation.

The Swiss coach, who had led the club into the Champions League for the first time last season, packed his bags after a run of five straight defeats, and Xhaka says the change was necessary.

"Andre Schubert has taken the burden off us after those five games, with different team-talks to the ones Favre was giving us," Xhaka told Sport1.de.

"He's a motivator and can get a bit loud before matches, but then he quietens down again and this is what the team needed after a difficult start to the season."

As a result, Gladbach go into Saturday's clash with Bayern tipped by many to become the first side to beat the Bavarians in the Bundesliga this season.

They were the only side not to concede to Bayern last season, winning at home and drawing away, and have picked up 23 points to Bayern's 25 in the nine games since Schubert has been calling the shots.

"Their run has got to come to an end sooner or later and there's got to be one team who comes along and beats them, so why should that not be us on Saturday?" Xhaka said.

"To start with, we've got to ensure we don't give the ball away cheaply because one of Bayern's strengths is the speed with which they turn defence into attack.

"But it gets you nowhere just packing men in at the back and hoping. Of course you need a bit of luck, like Frankfurt got with their 0-0, although I don't think Bayern are going to miss as many chances here as they did in Frankfurt.

"Bayern are, for me, the best team in the world right now so everything has got to come together.

"You need a bit of luck, but you have also got to take the chances you get and fight to the end."

That was one of Gladbach's strengths in the 1970s, when they were Bayern's biggest rivals for silverware.

According to Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, they are starting to show similar traits in recent years, as one of the oldest rivalries in German football starts to grow once again.

"They were one of the best teams in Germany in the 70s and they have a great tradition and culture," he said at a press conference on Friday.

"It's going to be a great game tomorrow. Both teams want to play attacking football and both teams have great quality players - I'm looking forward to it."

The Catalan would have been looking forward to it even more if he had the likes of Mario Gotze, David Alaba, Juan Bernat, Franck Ribery, Douglas Costa or Thiago Alcantara available.

"It's a pity that they are out injured," he said. "They are important players, but we've got other good ones.

"We've got to take the situation as it is and I hope they are all back after the winter break, when the important part of the season comes."