Despite past struggles and a 14th-place finish, last season’s 10th-place rise under Gerardo Seoane shows progress, and the club legend sees signs of a possible resurgence."(Borussia) Monchengladbach have faced challenges in recent seasons, but the bright side is that we are still holding our own in the Bundesliga," Schafer told SportsBoom.com.
"Last season, finishing in the top ten wasn’t a bad outcome considering the difficulties we faced. We’ve had our share of problems, from squad transitions to financial constraints, but the spirit of the club remains strong.
"My hope is that, with the current group of players, we continue rebuilding and steadily return to where we belong and compete among the top five in the league.
"Monchengladbach have always been a club that nurtures talent, values hard work, and plays with pride. The journey back to the top won’t be instant, but with determination and belief, I’m confident we can restore our place among the Bundesliga’s elite."
Schafer also cites financial constraints and the changing dynamics of the game as key challenges.
"You see, Bayern Munich have no problem with money," he continued. "They can spend €50 million on a single player in one year."
"Monchengladbach, on the other hand, cannot compete with those salaries. But it hasn’t always been this way. Historically, Monchengladbach built its reputation by developing young players.
"A player would join the academy and within a year, they improve by two or three levels. That was the club’s philosophy.
"Coaches like Hennes Weisweiler, later succeeded by Udo Lattek, embodied this approach. Jupp Heynckes, another outstanding coach, also contributed significantly. I played under him, and he led teams to the UEFA Cup and German Cup finals."