Borussia Dortmund is falling behind more and more in the Bundesliga. After the bankruptcy at Union Berlin, Mats Hummels shoots at Karim Adeyemi, but then there is a “very loud” discussion. BVB sees this as an opportunity to avoid an early cup exit this year.
Edin Terzic hopes for the positive effect of a lively discussion with his Dortmund team one day after the painful 0-2 defeat at Union Berlin. “It was very loud, very clear and very open. We hope that we can do it better as quickly as possible,” said the football teacher before the second-round cup game on Wednesday (6 p.m. / Sky and in the live ticker at ntv.de) at Hannover 96. Unlike a year ago in the round of 16 in St. Pauli, the Bundesliga eighth should be spared an embarrassing knockout in this competition this time. “It won’t be an easy task for us. It’s a second division team again, it’s a strong team again and it’s a knockout game again. But we are aware of our role as favorites and want to live up to it,” commented Terzic.
After a disappointing season in the Bundesliga so far with four defeats in ten games, the team, which has slipped into mediocrity, is under a lot of pressure. “You can be sure that the boys already know what it’s about,” the coach replied to questions after the team meeting on Monday, where the mistakes in Berlin were to be worked out. “It’s not that they turn a blind eye. What bothers us is that if you listen to them, then we hear the right things. Only then is it a matter of putting it on the pitch. That’s the big challenge now.”
After the 2-0 defeat at Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin last Sunday, Mats Hummels publicly criticized his 20-year-old team-mate Karim Adeyemi because he had initiated the second goal with a failed back-heel trick. “Sometimes the simple 20-meter back pass is the best solution, even if it doesn’t come up on social media afterwards,” said the defense chief.
Record national player Lothar Matthäus then criticized: “And what would slowly but surely get on my nerves as a Borussia Dortmund player is the constant criticism of Mats Hummels,” wrote the 61-year-old in his column on Sky. He likes and respects the person and player Mats Hummels very much, “but standing up week after week or dropping social media posts and constantly criticizing teammates eventually backfires.”
After his part-time assignment in Berlin, captain Marco Reus is likely to return to the starting lineup for the first time after a four-week break. On the other hand, Terzic has to do without Marius Wolf again in addition to the long-term injuries. “He’s still struggling with the consequences of his infection and won’t be available for us tomorrow,” said the coach.
