Sunday December 12th 2021
Keeper Kobel says “Sorry”
Not only Haaland is frustrated at BVB
There was no reaction after the defeat against FC Bayern, instead Borussia Dortmund even left points. After the draw at VfL Bochum, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel is partly to blame. Rose representative Alexander Zickler tries to be confident.
Erling Haaland was mightily served. The chances of his team in the unfortunate 1: 1 (0: 1) in the small Revierderby in Bochum ruined even a cheerful person like the Norwegian. While the VfL professionals were celebrated euphorically by their fans, the Dortmund striker disappeared into the dressing room with a disgruntled expression. The perceived defeat in the neighboring city and the six point gap to Munich also annoyed Gregor Kobel. “After the defeat against Bayern we actually wanted to show a reaction today. It’s not a good position we’re in now,” complained the BVB keeper.
As with the 2: 3 in the Bundesliga summit a week ago, Dortmund was not rewarded for a committed performance. The head coach Marco Rose, who was banished to the stands after a ban, had to sit and watch as his team failed to capitalize on their oppressive superiority with 23: 4 shots on goal and 15: 0 corners. Especially in the second half, even the best opportunities were missed. “You clearly have to win this game. It’s extremely bitter,” said Marius Wolf.
After all, Julian Brandt, who had recovered from a concussion and had only recently been substituted on, saved his team from another defeat with the 22nd Dortmund shot on goal in the 85th minute. The international didn’t seem really happy: “We had enough chances to win the game. Of course luck and bad luck always play a role, but in the end you really have to want it,” said the goalscorer at Sky.
“That’s on my cap”
That with Maxim Leitsch (47.) and Danilo Soares (63.) two Bochumers saved for their defeated goalkeeper Manuel Riemann on the line and a hit by Dortmund offensive force Wolf (54.) was canceled by video evidence due to an offside position by Jude Bellingham, fit into the picture of an unhappy afternoon. “We actually did very well in the second half. But there are games like this where the ball just doesn’t want to go in,” commented Kobel.
But that wasn’t the whole truth. In the end, the goalkeeper put his team behind with an unnecessary foul. In one of the few VfL counterattacks, he got Christopher Antwi-Adjei off his feet at the edge of the penalty area, although there was no acute goal danger. “That sucks, of course. That puts the team in a shitty position. I definitely have to do better, that’s on my head,” the goalkeeper admitted. Sebastian Polter converted the due penalty in the 40th minute in front of 13,799 spectators.
That is the only reason why VfL, cheered on frenetically by its fans, was able to hope for a coup for a long time. But the draw was also cheered like a victory after the end of the game – accompanied by the Bochum anthem by Herbert Grönemeyer played at full volume. Coach Thomas Reis made no secret of his pride: “We previously talked about a bonus game. Now we have taken a bonus point. Dortmund was clearly superior in terms of play and they were better in all statistics, but that is not decisive.”
Despite all the disappointment about the recent setback, Rose assistant Alexander Zickler, who was replacing the suspended head coach in Bochum, encouraged his wrinkled professionals: “We are now just before half-time of the season, we will definitely not give up now.”