Borussia Dortmund will have to do without central defender Nico Schlotterbeck “for the time being”. BVB announced this on Monday afternoon.
An exact downtime cannot be found in the club’s announcement. However, it is clear that Schlotterbeck tore a muscle fiber with tendon involvement at the Bundesliga summit meeting at FC Bayern on Saturday (2:4).
The 23-year-old was examined by BVB team doctor Dr Markus Braun immediately after his return to Dortmund. A day later, the bitter diagnosis followed.
According to the “Ruhr Nachrichten”, Schlotterbeck is even threatened with the end of the season. After all, “Bild” writes of a week-long absence and a “treacherous injury” at the former Freiburg player, who is one of the absolute long-running favorites in the Dortmund squad.
37 competitive games with 3009 minutes are already in Schlotterbeck’s statistics in 2022/2023. He scored four goals and five assists – an outstanding record for a defender.
Schlotterbeck was substituted in Munich shortly before the half-time break. Mats Hummels took his place in the center of defence.
BVB threatens staff shortages on the defensive
The veteran will now also have to represent his younger rivals in the coming weeks – starting with the quarterfinal game in the DFB Cup against RB Leipzig and the next top league game against Union Berlin.
In addition to Hummels, coach Edin Terzic now only has one other fit central defender in the final spurt of the season: Niklas Süle. If one of the two is injured, BVB is threatened with a worrying shortage of personnel on the defensive.
Borussia also has to do without Karim Adeyemi against RB Leipzig. The 21-year-old winger is fit again after a long absence due to a torn muscle fiber, but has been suspended for two cup games.
Mateu Morey (training deficit), Thomas Meunier (back problems) and winter newcomer Julian Duranville (muscle tear) are also currently unavailable to Terzic.