Marco Reus had to be pushed. The south stand called for him, but the long-time captain of Borussia Dortmund remained in the second row as the team was celebrated by their supporters for reaching the quarter-finals in the Champions League. But the chants didn’t stop. “Marco Reus, Marco Reus,” was shouted again and again. So several teammates pushed the veteran forward. Reus clutched his heart and waved to the fans.
No matter how humble Reus seemed at that moment last Wednesday evening, it was a very emotional moment for him. On May 27, 2023, when BVB lost the championship in front of their own audience on the last matchday, he found himself unable to step in front of the south stand.
He was sorry, but he was simply too disappointed, Reus apologized afterwards. Nevertheless, many people resented him for this. The fact that he was so celebrated by the fans last Wednesday must have moved the 34-year-old.
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Especially since Reus’ career is entering the home stretch. His goal to make it 2-0 (1-0) in stoppage time against PSV Eindhoven could have been one of the last great things Reus did for the club. In doing so, he eliminated the last remaining doubts that BVB would move into the top eight club teams in Europe for the first time in three years. In the quarter-finals it is now against Atlético Madrid, while FC Bayern meets the English league leaders FC Arsenal from London. This was the slogan of the European association Uefa last Friday afternoon.
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The two games are likely to be festivals for the fans of the black and yellow team – and that in what has been a rather tough season so far. “We are happy. Even though Atlético is not a monster that has to be defeated, especially in the knockout games,” said coach Edin Terzić. The goal is to keep all options open in the first leg in Madrid in order to then “experience a similar magical night to Wednesday” in the second leg.
Against Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Bayern
In the Bundesliga, however, Dortmund are still fighting to be able to have similar experiences again next season. BVB’s remaining program is tough: After the home game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday (5.30 p.m., DAZN), they go to FC Bayern on Holy Saturday (6.30 p.m., Sky). Then comes VfB Stuttgart. The following weeks will also remain challenging with games against league leaders Bayer Leverkusen and Leipzig, among others.
“We expect the team to show in the Bundesliga what they achieved in the Champions League and to deliver there in the next few weeks,” said BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl. The performance in the first half hour against Eindhoven was the strongest of the season so far.
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A renewed qualification for the premier class would be enormously important for further development. Dortmund’s self-image is defined by being part of the top international group – although not the absolute elite, because they lack the resources to do so compared to teams like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Paris St. Germain, FC Bayern and the top clubs from England.
But BVB ranks right behind them. This was taken into account last Wednesday. “The quarterfinals were our goal. The fact that we have achieved this shows that we are still there,” said Kehl: “But we want to continue to be present at this level in Europe in the future.”
BVB wants to keep Donyell Malen – and needs money from the Champions League to do so
Quelle: Getty Images/Dean Mouhtaropoulos
Only if this succeeds would BVB have the opportunity to build a team that will continue to meet high international standards in the future. The income from the Champions League is very important – the current situation proves that. In addition to the starting bonus of over 15 million euros, 9.6 million euros were also added for reaching the round of 16.
Added on Wednesday 10.6 million for the quarter-finals. Due to their favorable coefficient at UEFA due to their regular participation in the Champions League, an additional 27.29 million euros are added. What is particularly important, however, are the distributions from the TV pool of Uefa’s central marketing, which will only be determined after the end of the season: it is quite possible that Dortmund will receive up to 20 million euros on top – which will then lead to total income of well over 80 million euros would.
Money urgently needed for Donyell Painting
This would give BVB a tool with which to fend off the ongoing attack from investor-backed competition from Leverkusen and Leipzig. Kehl, who will probably move up to management after Hans-Joachim Watzke leaves, would be able to keep sought-after players like Donyell Malen.
He might even have some chance of retaining Jadon Sancho or Ian Maatsen for longer. Maatsen is on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season, Sancho, who scored 1-0 on Wednesday, from Manchester United. Both have proven to be significant reinforcements and could be extremely important heading into the coming season.
“Nothing scares me when I see this squad”
National coach Julian Nagelsmann starts the European Championship year with six newcomers. Three months before the European Football Championship, the DFB head coach presented his selection for the test matches against France and the Netherlands in Frankfurt. Former national player Jimmy Hartwig classifies the changes at WELT TV.
Source: WELT TV / Marcus Tychsen
There are several open questions that would be easier to answer with a renewed qualification for the Champions League. The game structure could be sustainably improved by signing a strong central midfielder. This was the core problem for long stretches of the season because captain Emre Can was unable to build on his form from the second half of the previous season.
There will be a lot to do in the summer. The fact that Niclas Füllkrug may only be one Borussia player playing for Germany at the European Championships does not correspond to Dortmund’s standards. Niklas Süle, Nico Schlotterbeck, Julian Brandt, Karim Adeyemi, Youssoufa Moukoko and also the veterans Mats Hummels and Reus were not taken into account by national coach Julian Nagelsmann for the international friendly matches against France and the Netherlands. According to Kehl, everyone still has the opportunity to recommend themselves.
The contracts of Mats Hummels and Marco Reus are ending
However, if the demanded increases in performance do not occur – the pressure on those responsible for BVB to act would increase again. This also applies to discussions about the future of Hummels and Reus, both of whom are no longer part of the team and whose contracts end on June 30, 2024. Hummels, 35, came into the team last Wednesday because Schlotterbeck was suspended, and Reus came on as a substitute.
“It’s important to me that we treat each other with great respect in both directions, that we accept the coach’s decisions and that we still always hold the boys accountable,” said Kehl. But this is not always easy to accept for two such deserving players.
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