After two defeats in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund wants to be successful at least in the Champions League and finally gain stability.
The 3-0 success in the first leg at Sporting Lisbon seemed to be a real knot removal for Borussia Dortmund. The BVB team showed a lively second half and shot the frustration out of the Bundesliga From the soul. But then the next “Downer” – 0: 2 in the district derby against VfL Bochum followed on Saturday.
Kovac warns: “First first half”
“You have already seen bigger comebacks,” warned midfielder Pascal Groß during the press conference. Coach Niko Kovac was calm before the play-off second leg against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday (6.45 p.m.), but he ruled out every risk. The 3: 0 from the first leg “was not the end of this round, but the first half,” he emphasized: “We do not expect, we do not rot, we go 100 percent in.”
The primary concern is to win games in the Bundesliga again. “That is what we need. This is the housework. Champions League is only the cream on the top of the cake,” said the new coach.
Such a modest debut of a BVB coach had last existed 41 years ago: Timo Konietzka had to go again in 1984 after seven defeats from nine games.
Just no quick goal
So the Kovac team again goes into the duel against the Portuguese with a lot of tension. In front of their own audience, the round of 16 should no longer go wrong after the clear first leg result, but no one is too safe after the many setbacks this season at black and yellow.
Kovac conjured up the team spirit on Tuesday. “What we need now in our situation is the cohesion in the team. Strengthened there – that is what it is about,” said Kovac.
“I am extremely confident,” said sports manager Lars Ricken. Even in view of the convincing victory from the first leg, “we have to be warned. Nothing should happen, no quick goal.” Because then the uncertain BVB team could come back into rotating.
Departure would be historical
Never in the history of the premier class or the old European Cup of the national champions, himself never in the Europa League, the UEFA Cup or the European Cup winner, a team in the KO round after a three-goal win.
The Lisbon game is primarily intended to strengthen the cracked self-confidence again and finally create the trend reversal in this so far unstable season. “We saw this season that everything is still somewhat fragile,” said Ricken. “We have to work out the lightness in every game.”
Kovac will probably not change much in terms of personnel. Salih Özcan may get a chance from the start thanks to his strengths against the ball. Marcel Sabitzer would then have to give way.
Sporting also weakened
Incidentally, for Sporting, it was also very cumbersome after the bankruptcy against BVB in the league. Against the table-12. FC Arouca didn’t jump out more than a 2-2 draw in front of your own fans. After all, the capital club and reigning champions with a two-point lead on the top of the table remains.
Our sources:
- News agencies SID/dpa
- Borussia Dortmund press conference
