Kehl indicates replacement transfer
© Imago
This article appeared on the transfer market in its first version on April 7th. at 4:33 p.m. and was updated with statements.
Borussia Dortmund has to contest the rest of the season without Nico Schlotterbeck. On Monday, BVB announced that the central defender has suffered a meniscal tear in the left knee. On Tuesday, the international, who will be longer than initially suspected, took a stand.
“Nico’s failure hits us very hard,” said sports director Sebastian Kehl. “He is a very important part of our team and convinced with constant good performances this season. We hope that he will quickly get fit again, and he gets the maximum support on the way back.”
“It will be a long and challenging journey, but I am determined to do everything to become in top shape. During this time I will also withdraw from the public and social media to fully concentrate on my recovery-and above all because I need it for myself and my head,” said Schlotterbeck on Tuesday morning in an Instagram story. “Your support means a lot to me and I am grateful to always have you by my side. Even if I am not on the pitch from now on, I know that I will come back more than before!”
Schlotterbeck is missing BVB for half a year
Kehl announced more information about Schlotterbeck before departure to the Champions League game in Barcelona. “Everything went very quickly, Nico was operated on on Monday evening and will be missing for several months,” said the official and, given the long downtime, also indicated the need for Dortmund to have to be active on the transfer market. Kehl said: “Around half a year, that is the current forecast. So with this topic we will have to deal with this topic towards the club World Cup and a new season.”
Schlotterbeck was missing in the Bundesliga game against Freiburg (4: 1) on Saturday and also missed almost only then in the BVB defense when he was blocked or when he was put off in August and early February. In the first game in the new year against Leverkusen (2: 3), the international had also had to expose sick.
Trainer Niko Kovac recently left it open whether the recently injured defense colleague Niklas Süle can start again on Wednesday (9 p.m./DAZN) in the Champions League quarter-finals against FC Barcelona. The Dortmund as the only nominal central defender would only remain Waldemar Anton. In the game on Saturday in Freiburg, Anton, Ramy Bensebaini and Emre Can formed the defensive series of three.