The cheers came with a delay. When the game ended in San Siro, 3,000 BVB fans celebrated, but several Dortmund professionals collapsed onto the pitch. It almost seemed as if they were reserved friends. The impression was deceptive. “The boys were simply exhausted, but also very happy,” said Edin Terzic after the 3-1 (1-1) win at AC Milan – the victory that secured BVB’s place in the round of 16 of the Champions League one game day before the end of the group phase secured.
Above all, the way in which this victory came about was the exclamation mark for a team that has had a lot on its plate in the past few weeks and months. The Dortmund team was repeatedly confronted with doubts about their ability and willingness to perform.
Edin Terzic, on behalf of the players, felt the satisfaction of having shown the critics. “Let’s remember the evening of the draw,” said the coach. BVB had Paris St. Germain, Newcastle United and Milan as opponents. There was talk of a “group of death” – in the sense of: highly likely to be fatal for Dortmund. “After our 2-0 defeat in Paris, everyone said: ‘Now it’s going to be difficult’. And after our 0-0 draw against Milan in the first leg we said: ‘That’s it.'” But then Newcastle were convincingly beaten twice (1-0 and 2-0). “We went to Milan as league leaders and showed that we really wanted this win,” said Terzic.
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Dortmund deservedly got what they deserved. And if Paris hadn’t made it 1-1 in stoppage time in the parallel game against Newcastle – BVB would have already been declared group winners. But even so, it will be a relaxed end to the year, at least internationally: While the Dortmund team is through, the three investor-financed star groups still have to tremble.
Praise and recognition: Milan’s coach Stefano Pioli (left) and Dortmund’s Edin Terzic
Those: dpa/Federico Gambarini
“It was fun,” said Mats Hummels after the impressive performance in Milan, in which the defense chief himself played an outstanding role. The national player, who turns 35 on December 16th, won almost every duel and tirelessly launched attacks. His performance was “world class,” said Matthias Sammer, advisor to BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke. “Outstanding,” said sports director Sebastian Kehl.
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The person being praised preferred to pass on the compliments to their colleagues. The game showed “that our attitude is really a different team than in previous years,” he explained. The times when BVB had to be accused of a lack of mentality are over – at least largely. “Occasionally we still have games like that. But performances in which we are eaten have become much rarer,” says Hummels.
Of course, there were also this season, these appearances in which the team seemed strangely indisposed, in which nothing came together at all. The 0:4 in the Bundesliga against FC Bayern was such a setback, as was the almost lethargic performance in the 1:2 in Stuttgart a week later. And even in the 4-2 win against Gladbach on Saturday, the initial phase was completely missed when it was 0-2 after half an hour.
But internationally, the team grew with its tasks – and in Milan, BVB achieved its strongest performance of the season to date. “We can be proud of that,” said Hummels. He rarely attempts such pathos.
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It could well be appropriate, as the starting point was anything but ideal. On the day of the match, the team doctor came to him “every sixty minutes” to inform him which player could play and which could not, said Terzic. Several players had problems getting fit for the match – like Nico Schlotterbeck. But he had to play because another central defender, Niklas Süle, had already signed off sick. Karim Adeyemi, who scored the decisive 3-1 after coming on as a substitute (69th minute), and others would not have played under normal circumstances.
“We persevered,” said Terzic, who hopes that the extraordinary commitment will now become standard. It’s about learning from this that it’s worth “fighting against all resistance.”
Hummels has the largest share
In any case, all Dortmund senses were sharpened at the San Siro. The stormy opening phase in Milan was also managed. BVB keeper Gregor Kobel, who is already Borussia’s strongest player this season, saved a hand penalty from Olivier Giroud (6th minute). Shortly afterwards, the strong Jamie Bynoe-Gittens won a penalty for BVB, which Marco Reus was able to take the lead (10th). A game then developed in which BVB demonstrated robustness: Milan pressed, but thanks to consistent defensive work, the third-placed team in Serie A was hardly given any chances to score. Dortmund remained dangerous with counterattacks. That didn’t change even after Samuel Chukwueze equalized (37′).
“After the break we finished it more cleanly,” said Terzic. And with Bynoe-Gittens (19), who scored his first Champions League goal, and Adeyemi (21), the – albeit still inconsistent – BVB talents decided the game. However, the youngsters nurtured the hope that Dortmund could have players again in the future who could make the difference.
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However, the biggest contribution was undoubtedly made by a veteran who many had assumed would only be interested in ending his career in the current season: Hummels. “Years ago there was a sensational performance by a BVB defender in a game at Manchester United,” said Edin Terzic, recalling the legendary Jürgen Kohler. That would have driven Eric Contona to despair – which earned him the nickname “Football God”. “I don’t think Mats’ performance was any worse today,” said Terzic.
In any case, the trip to Milan gave BVB courage – also with a view to the Bundesliga. With Hummels, she confirmed the impression that “we have definitely grown up.” The team could prove this on Sunday: Then they go to league leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
