What exactly does Matthias Sammer do as a consultant of Borussia Dortmund? In the recent past, many fans and observers of BVB have arisen this question. In the exclusive interview with RTL/NTV and Sport.de, Sports Managing Director Lars Ricken has given a plain answer and emphasized the importance of the former professional and master trainer.
At the beginning of the year, Matthias Sammer was suddenly on everyone’s lips because, as a TV expert, he had severely criticized the achievements of Dortmund, at that time under coach Edin Terzic, as a TV expert. A fact that is surprising, as Sammer has been officially employed as a consultant for the black and yellow since 2018.
In this context, the question also arose: What exactly does Sammer do in this function? BVB Sport Managing Director Lars Ricken now has this in an exclusive interview with RTL/NTV and sport.de Information given.
Sammer is “very important,” said Ricken about the external consultant and added: “You always see us sitting in the stands. I usually relatively calm, Matthias a little more impulsive.”
It is “just important to him to have people at my side who also take responsibility,” said Ricken, and gave an anecdote from the recent past that should show the importance of Sammer.
“Often ‘what does he do?’. He was when we were in the Bundesliga, who said, who said: ‘I feel in the responsibility. I want to help that it gets better again,” reveals the former BVB professional and added: “I don’t come up with so many and say’ I feel in responsibility ‘.”
Ricken raves about Sammer’s “expertise”
The club boss Hans-Joachim Watzke, who was overwhelming at the end of the year, who is also in an interview with RTL/NTV and sport.de Was a guest, “also gave him on the way that it can be very lonely around you in the position when things are not going well. And I need people who then take responsibility. Matthias made that,” said Ricken.
What also speaks for Sammer: “He also has an expertise that I don’t have. He used to be a coach and has a very good exchange, also with Niko Kovac – and of course I want to use that.”
Sammer worked as a coach between summer 2000 and 2004 in Dortmund, won the championship at the time (2002). As a player, he even won the title twice with the BVB beforehand, also became the Champions League winner (1997, together with Ricken, who at the time scored the decisive goal against Juventus Turin).
“Just when we didn’t play well in the Bundesliga, the fans often came from the fans ‘what still stand for? What kind of football they want?’ And Matthias also has a bit, even with the DFB, where he was a young coordinator, brought in.
He was grateful for a man with such a “giant expertise” at his side. “Sammer’s contract runs out this summer. According to the advisor, the advisor should be extended by two years after the club World Cup.
Further statements by Lars Ricken:
… about the dream of the club World Cup title:
If we are already in New York, we want to stay there because the semi -finals and finals are also played there. We no longer rule out anything just because the opponent is called Real Madrid. We want to take the last step now.
We are here in Fort Lauderdale. A few days ago, the Florida Panthers won the title and had a few hundred thousand people celebrated directly in front of our hotel with a bus body and then we watched a bit. But in the end we not only want to watch, but of course experience it ourselves.
… About the lack of brother duel of the Bellinghams:
We are annoyed that unfortunately there is no brother duel from Jobe and Jude Bellingham. That would have been the history of the club World Cup: two brothers at this high sporting level. I have to say that it actually annoys us massively. Jobe was very depressed after the game that he couldn’t be there in this game against his brother.
… for Dortmund’s chances against Real Madrid:
We need an outstanding day. Maybe we need a perfect day. But real is also a bit in change. I think Alonso lets a little different football playing than Ancelotti. We will probably not get ten chances, but if we get one, we have to do it. We are now together for three weeks. I think we really grew up as a team as a team. Now a little more. And it will be important. That everyone brings their strengths into this game. We will also need a little luck, probably again with Gregor Kobel an outstanding goalkeeper, but we don’t see each other in a hopeless situation.
… about the stress of the players by heat and climate:
I really have respect for the players how pragmatic they go there. We have three or four players who went through all the games and a high humidity of 40 degrees on the square. That is already borderline. Sometimes the stadiums have no roof. Our substitute players therefore do not go out to warm up, but stay in the cabin or sit under umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun.
… About the schedule at the limit:
The loads are extremely extreme and it is not easy for the players either, because of course they are usually on vacation with their family. We really have to protect our players there. It is already at the border, we have already made it clear. […] There is no punishment to play here, but a reward and the team lives. This is a giant stage for every single player. To play against real thousand in New York against Real. There are unique experiences. And we will make sure that the players get enough regeneration time afterwards and we can then start the new season.