Sympathy mixed with the celebration of the derby victory against Schalke 04. Borussia Dortmund complains about Marco Reus’ injury. He will have to rest longer. BVB trainer Edin Terzic speaks of a “very bitter” circumstance.
Dhe great trembling around Marco Reus begins. How bad is his injury, will he miss a major tournament again? It seems clear: National coach Hansi Flick has to plan for the World Cup dress rehearsal next week in the Nations League against Hungary on September 23 in Leipzig and three days later in London against England without the 33-year-old offensive player. “It didn’t look good at first glance at the ankle,” said BVB defense chief Mats Hummels.
In the district derby against Schalke 04 (1-0) in the 28th minute, Dortmund’s playmaker landed his right foot on Schalke’s calf in a harmless duel against Florian Flick, buckling his ankle and falling to the ground.
In his 250th Bundesliga game for Borussia, he had to be treated for minutes and taken off the field on a stretcher. Reus kept putting his hands in front of his pained face. When he was carried off, the Schalke fans sarcastically chanted “Goodbye”. The BVB supporters reacted to the tastelessness of the guest fans with a whistling concert.
Before the start of the second half, at 4:28 p.m., Reus was driven out of the stadium with a heavily bandaged ankle and had to be supported by a member of the medical team.
“I’m praying for him,” said Dortmund’s goal scorer Moukoko
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic said: “He was in a lot of pain. It looks like the ligaments in the foot have been injured. We don’t yet know how long he’ll be out. We still need a few more tests.” Ligament injuries often result in a compulsory break of six to eight weeks. But Terzic said it “probably won’t take that long. He’d injured his ankle before. It’s very disappointing, very bitter.”
Ironically, Reus. In top form, of all things. And just before the World Cup. After almost a year of abstinence, the 48-time national player was called back to the DFB squad by national coach Hansi Flick. After he had already missed the 2014 World Cup title and the 2016 European Championship due to injury, his last big tournament chance is now at least in great danger. Under BVB trainer Edin Terzic, Reus got back into top form with top values just in time for the Winter World Cup in Qatar (November 20th to December 18th).
“I dedicate my goal to him,” said Dortmund’s winning goalscorer Youssoufa Moukoko, who headed in Marius Wolf’s cross in the 79th minute. “I pray he’s not injured that badly. He’s our captain. When he’s on the pitch, you just feel safe,” said the 17-year-old BVB striker.
