In Marbella, Spain, the Borussia Dortmund stars are currently working on getting in shape for the second half of the Bundesliga. Defender Nico Schlotterbeck demands that BVB then has to show a different side.
“We simply have to perform better again. And I can tell you: We know that we have an obligation to deliver and that we have to deliver,” the central defender made clear in an interview with “WAZ”.
To believe that Borussia has the right to catch up in the second half of the season, as in recent years, is completely the wrong approach. “That would definitely be too easy. Nobody here is that naive,” explained Schlotterbeck.
Instead, only hard work can lead to ultimately achieving your sporting goals. However, he still finds it difficult to make a clear error analysis after the botched half-series in the Bundesliga.
“I don’t have a simple explanation for it. I don’t think there is, otherwise we would have found it already. A few factors come together,” said the national player.
Schlotterbeck praises coaching decision at BVB
Since the beginning of January, Sven Bender and Nuri Sahin have also been helping Edin Terzic as additional assistant coaches in troubleshooting. A good decision for Schlotterbeck.
“So far they’ve made a great impression. They take on a lot of tasks in training, explain a lot and have a lot of experience in certain situations. The first few days in the new constellation make you want more,” said the 24-year-old.
In this new constellation, Schlotterbeck also wants to advance his personal goals in the second half of the season. This includes recommending yourself for a place in the squad for the home European Championship.
“I want to make it as difficult as possible for the national coach not to take me with him,” said Schlotterbeck.
The fact that he wasn’t nominated twice by Julian Nagelsmann recently doesn’t bother him.
“You have to perform in the club – and that may not have been convincing enough for the national coach recently. I accept that, but at the same time I see it as an incentive to improve further. Then I’ll be self-confident enough to say that I’ll do it again will be part of the national team,” was his clear message to Nagelsmann.