After breaking his nose, Marcel Lotka is back on the pitch for Dortmund’s second team. He recently reviewed the past few months while on vacation – and is now commenting on the move to Dortmund and his goals for the first time.
Lotka (left) high fives for Captain Pfanne.
IMAGO / Fotografie73
Marcel Lotka’s life has been upside down in recent months. First he signed a contract with BVB II, then the fifth keeper from Hertha BSC suddenly moved into the Bundesliga goal, stayed there for a total of ten games and convinced (kicker grade point average 3.25). The Berliners were suddenly fighting for their goalkeeper again, wanted to keep him despite the BVB contract – and then withdrew. Ironically, during the guest appearance in Dortmund (1:2), Lotka also suffered a broken nose, which is why he missed the relegation. “It was the most exhausting weeks of my life so far,” said the 21-year-old in an interview with kicker.
It’s every footballer’s dream to play in the Bundesliga.
“It was a lot of fun,” he reported. “It’s every footballer’s dream to play in the Bundesliga. Of course you can’t believe it at first, but then I became very aware of it on vacation.” According to his own statement, Lotka only noticed the back and forth about himself and the move to Borussia insignificantly. I didn’t think too much about it, I was fully focused on the relegation battle. That was enough stress. The matter was beside the point. I’m happy to be here now.” At BVB and in the U23s, for which Lotka, who last year was still active for Hertha’s second representation in the Regionalliga Nordost, is still planned.
Comeback after broken nose
In the friendly against Preußen Münster (1-1) he was back on the field for the first time after his nose injury – without any problems, as he emphasized after the final whistle: “I went into the game very confidently and didn’t notice any areas in which I still needed time . Everything is as before.” Until a few days ago he still had to wear a mask, “but everything has been clarified. If I feel safe, I can take it off.” So he did.
I want to be in goal for the first team in the Bundesliga for a longer period of time.
At BVB II, Lotka now expects a spicy goalkeeper duel. In the U23s, Dortmund’s homegrown Luca Unbehaun was most recently between the posts – Lotka will be measuring himself against the 21-year-old in the coming weeks. “I will do my best,” confirmed the newcomer – and explained: “I have clear goals and I will aim for them.” What does that mean specifically? “Of course I want to be in goal for the first team in the Bundesliga in the long term, that’s why I came,” said Lotka, who currently has Gregor Kobel and new professional signing Alexander Meyer (from Jahn Regensburg) ahead of him and initially the fight for the number three must win.
Lotka brings “experience, among other things”
According to Christian Preusser, the new U23 football coach, that is still completely open. “Marcel is already fully in the team, he brings a lot with him, including experience.” In Lotka’s play structure, however, he “noticed a few things, we will talk about them in the next few weeks”. Among other things, in the BVB II training camp, which begins on July 1st. Both Unbehaun and Lotka will travel there to show themselves to the coaching staff. Silas Ostrzinski, recently promoted from the U19s, remains in Dortmund to train with the Bundesliga team.
“We want to take our time,” said Preusser on Tuesday evening about the U-23 goalkeeper duel. “Marcel now has the chance to get to know the team.” Who will then guard the goal on the first matchday in the 3rd division and whether there is one It is not yet clear whether there will be a clear number 1 – and also depends on what the professional department is planning.Meanwhile, Lotka is already in contact with Dortmund’s top goalkeeper coach Matthias Kleinsteiber, who, like head coach Edin Terzic, watched the ex-Herthan’s debut. “We often exchange ideas,” said the goalkeeper, “and it’s very good.” Overall, he already feels very comfortable at BVB. “I was well received here.”
