Borussia Dortmund
“Fought, scratched, bitten”: BVB gains confidence
Dortmund’s team is celebrated by the fans after the end of the game. photo
© Bernd Thissen/dpa
In recent years there has often been a mentality debate at BVB. But at the start of the new season, the team was convincing, at least in terms of fighting. That went down well with the fans.
Munich conjures up, Dortmund malochets. Although BVB didn’t spread the glamor of FC Bayern at the start of the season, the belief in a successful season grew on the pitch and in the stands.
Inspired by the sizzling atmosphere in the stadium, Sebastian Kehl generously overlooked the lack of play after the happy 1-0 (1-0) win over Bayer Leverkusen. The sports director showed no sign of envy of the 6-1 gala of the big title rivals the day before in Frankfurt. “We fought, scratched, bit. That’s what people want to see here. We’ve made a big step forward and we want to have a special season.”
Overshadowed by the excitement about a police operation in and outside the stadium, which forced the 81,365 spectators to remain in the sold-out Signal Iduna Park for around half an hour after the final whistle, Borussia presented virtues they thought had been lost. When the ideas in the offensive game ran out with increasing playing time, the team, known in recent years for a lack of mentality and sloppy defensive work, defended their own goal with passion.
“No one can be more diligent and courageous than us”
When asked about the meaning of the first day of the game for the long-distance title duel with Bayern and the competitiveness of his team, Terzic gave a meaningful answer: “If someone is better, we will accept that. But nobody can be more diligent and courageous than us.”
The Dortmund pros made good on their promise to get the crowd enthusiastic about BVB football again, at least in a combative manner. The fact that goalkeeper Gregor Kobel cleared Bayer striker Patrik Schick several times in dire need was seen by everyone involved as the luck of the capable. “We didn’t say that we would march through the league just because we have a lot of new players and a new coach,” commented goal scorer Marco Reus (10th minute), “it was a very clear work win that we’re happy to take with us.”
Terzic saw it in a similar way: “What makes us positive is the way we defended our goal. That sparked it in the stands and back again.” The 39-year-old Rose successor set a record on his comeback as head coach after a year. Another was added to the seven league wins at the end of the 20/21 season. Only Jürgen Klopp, who is revered as a coaching legend, managed eight successes in a row at BVB ten years ago.
Adeyemi is in danger of being injured
However, Terzic’s joy was marred by Karim Adeyemi’s injury. The national player had to be substituted in the first half due to a foot injury and is in danger of becoming the fourth new signing after Sébastien Haller, Niklas Süle and Salih Özcan. However, Adeyemi does not expect a longer forced break. “I’m better now and I hope it’s nothing dramatic,” said the 20-year-old forward after the game.
Another purchase could console Terzic about the previous bad luck with the newcomers. Because there is progress in the tricky search for a replacement for striker Haller, who is suffering from a tumor. “Of course we have created some options and are on the right track. Something will probably happen – I think very soon,” Kehl revealed after the game on Sky.
After names such as Memphis Depay, Mauro Icardi, Edinson Cavani, Edin Dzeko, Giovanni Simeone and Krzysztof Piatek have already been traded in public, Anthony Modeste is now the favourite. As the Internet portal Sport1 reports, BVB is said to have already agreed on a one-year contract with the 34-year-old attacker and submitted an official offer to league rivals 1. FC Köln.
According to information from the “Express”, both clubs are still a little different in their ideas about the amount of the fee. Accordingly, Cologne demand five million euros for the Frenchman, who has a contract until 2023 and scored 20 goals for FC last season. Modeste would come close to the requirement profile of Borussia, which has been looking for a similarly beefy attacker with a strong header like Haller for days, but allegedly does not want to spend more than ten million euros for the entire package.
Excitement about vehicle with engine running
The fact that the fans couldn’t go home immediately after the final whistle was due to the excitement surrounding a suspicious vehicle with the engine running near the stadium. At the behest of the police, the spectators were initially prevented from leaving the arena. Only when it was clarified that the engine of the car was running due to a technical defect and the vehicle owner and grandstand guest could be questioned about the incident was the all-clear given. “According to the current status of the investigation, there was never any danger from either the vehicle or the owner,” the police said a little later.
