After BVB’s draw against Hoffenheim
©IMAGO
As in the previous year, the frustration at Borussia Dortmund is particularly great in December. “I am very, very angry and disappointed. We simply left valuable two points behind for us,” complained coach Nuri Şahin after the 1-1 (0-0) draw against TSG Hoffenheim, who were threatened with relegation.
“Apart from a few away games, that was one of the weakest performances we have shown this season,” said defense chief Nico Schlotterbeck, who played despite suffering a ligament injury. “We are Borussia Dortmund, against Hoffenheim it’s all about us winning.” Instead, the Black and Yellows, who started the season so strongly at home, didn’t just go without a win in their third home game in a row. If they don’t manage to win against VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday at the end of the year, BVB would remain unsuccessful throughout December, as they did last year.
Kehl demands victory in Wolfsburg – by all means
“We are lagging behind in terms of points,” said sports director Sebastian Kehl. “We now have one more game and we have to win it, no matter by what means.” Currently, BVB are already separated from fourth place by five points – too much for Dortmund’s ambitions. The pressure in winter was already great in 2023 and the minimum goal of qualifying for the Champions League was in great danger. The Champions League finalist from last season is only in the premier class this season because fifth place was enough in the end. Compared to the same time last season, they have three points less.
Captain Emre Can took the all-round strike. “Even if we had won the game, it would have been a disaster for us today. The way we performed is absolutely unacceptable. I think that was simply the worst performance of the season. You can play badly, but the way it was played was simply not acceptable,” said the 30-year-old: “I have the feeling that many people are just busy with themselves and that shouldn’t be the case. You can only get the mentality together as a team if all eleven players on the pitch think the same and don’t take each other too seriously. To be honest, I didn’t have that impression. If it continues like this, we won’t play successful football.”
Despite the overall poor performance against Hoffenheim, BVB led until injury time thanks to Giovanni Reyna’s first goal in a year and a half (46th minute). In the end, it was former BVB professional Jacob Bruun Larsen (90+1) who punished Dortmund’s negligence.
“Of course the goal shouldn’t come after a throw-in,” complained Schlotterbeck, whose effort was the only bright spot from Dortmund’s perspective. Nevertheless, he also practiced self-criticism. “I lacked the energy today, so I’m putting all of myself into it. We lost so many balls, played uncleanly and dubiously, we had no phases of possession at all.”
During the 2-3 defeat in the Champions League on Wednesday, the national player was carried off the pitch on a stretcher. However, the feared serious injury did not materialize. The fact that Schlotterbeck played despite his ligament injury came as a surprise to most people. “The ligaments are already extremely damaged,” said the 25-year-old. “I’m going to put my foot up now. Then try to play in Wolfsburg on Sunday and hope that things calm down the week after next.”