Despite Gladbach's search for a defensive savior, the former Leipzig tactician remains sidelined, reportedly prioritizing his hiatus over a return to the dugout amid ongoing contractual complications.
Ole Werner has reportedly ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Borussia Mönchengladbach job, leaving the Bundesliga side searching elsewhere for Eugen Polanski's successor.
According to BILD, Werner is currently not interested in taking over at Gladbach. The 38-year-old is said to be enjoying his time away from the touchline, while Leipzig’s situation is complicated by the fact that he remains on the club’s payroll.
Werner's name appearing on Gladbach's shortlist is hardly surprising.
His departure from RB this summer remains one of the more controversial coaching decisions in the Bundesliga. Werner had guided Leipzig to third place last season, securing Champions League football, before being relieved of his duties at the end of the campaign.
That decision became even more interesting once his replacement, Martín Demichelis, came under immediate pressure.
Leipzig's start to the new campaign has been turbulent, with defeats against Bremen and Como prompting questions about the direction of the team. BILD even noted that Demichelis was facing criticism similar to that directed at Werner, particularly over Leipzig's struggles against compact opponents and their lack of attacking solutions.
Werner, meanwhile, has watched from the sidelines.
He remains tied to Leipzig despite no longer being in charge, meaning any club looking to appoint him would potentially have to negotiate with the club. That makes his reported lack of interest in the Gladbach position particularly notable.
Gladbach's need for a new coach comes after a disastrous opening to the Bundesliga season. Polanski's side lost all three of their opening matches, conceding 12 goals in the process, with Sunday's 0-5 defeat against Freiburg bringing his tenure to an end. Assistant Jan-Moritz Lichte has taken temporary charge.
Werner was among the names considered alongside candidates including Horst Steffen, Alexander Blessin and Christian Eichner. But according to the latest reports, Gladbach will have to look elsewhere.
Werner finding a new club would certainly be a positive outcome.
A move elsewhere could finally take Werner's salary off the club's wage structure and bring some clarity to a situation that has lingered since his departure.
But there is an obvious complication. Leipzig could soon find itself in the awkward position of still paying Werner while potentially having to deal with another coaching change only weeks into the new season. If Demichelis' position becomes untenable, the club would then have to navigate a second coaching decision while Werner and possibly Demichelis remain on its books.
That makes Gladbach's interest particularly relevant for the Red Bulls, even if Werner ultimately decides against the move. For a club that has already gone through one major coaching change this summer, the last thing RB needs is another complicated situation developing on the sidelines.
