Fan protest is not an excuse
“Arrogance” attack puts BVB stars under pressure
February 18, 2024, 12:45 p.m
After a disappointing draw in Wolfsburg, the tone at Borussia Dortmund is rough. Sports director Kehl is demanding a drastic improvement from the players before the Champions League round of 16. The future in the premier class is at stake.
After the failed dress rehearsal for the Champions League, Sebastian Kehl had a lot to talk about. It was less the missed win at VfL Wolfsburg than the manner in which Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director was upset after the 1-1 (1-0) draw.
Kehl complained that his team “played arrogantly” and demanded a significant improvement in performance from the BVB stars with a view to the premier class round of 16 at PSV Eindhoven: “If you don’t perform in these two games, you’re out. We need two really good ones Performance, full commitment and full focus.” Already in the first leg on Tuesday (9 p.m./Prime Video and in the ntv.de live ticker) There is a lot at stake for Borussia.
Kehl spoke quietly. But he chose his words carefully in the catacombs of the Wolfsburg Arena. It was a wake-up call, a wake-up call in Kehl’s way. “At one point or another there was just too much hoe and tip for me,” explained the 44-year-old. The Lower Saxony team “did not play consistently enough in duels” and “lost balls too carelessly in some situations”. Unlike others in the Dortmund camp, Kehl did not want to use the fans’ ongoing protest actions as an excuse.
Schlotterbeck defends himself
Too little speed and too little passion. Too little esprit and too little goal threat: Dortmund’s list of shortcomings with Wolves without a win for seven games was long. Even the early lead by Niclas Füllkrug (8th) did not give coach Edin Terzić’s team any noticeable security. With the equalizing goal by substitute Yannick Gerhardt (64th), BVB was still well served.
“It’s not all bad,” emphasized Nico Schlotterbeck. Defensively, given the only two goals conceded in 2024, we are “stable. In terms of points, we are in a good position,” said the defender, but he also had to admit: “Of course we can play better football.”
Dortmund’s season is like a tightrope walk with a constant risk of falling. Even though Borussia remained unbeaten in Wolfsburg in the sixth game of the year (four wins, two draws), the fight for the Champions League places intensified massively over the weekend. In front of BVB, VfB Stuttgart is now threatening to escape by five points, while RB Leipzig slipped to within one point from behind. A place in the top four, which also guarantees participation in the premier class next season, is in serious danger.
“I think we’ll get there in the end, but it’ll be a tough fight,” said Kehl, trying to exude confidence. He and the BVB players initially focused on Tuesday. “We are now trying to play a very, very good away game and get a very good result for the second leg,” said Schlotterbeck. A performance like in Wolfsburg, that much is certain, will not be enough.