Bundesliga Borussia Dortmund
Minimum goal in danger – Now Watzke is even changing his future plan for Kehl
Status: 07.04.2024 | Reading time: 4 minutes
BVB suffers a setback in the fight for Champions League qualification due to the defeat against Stuttgart. The remaining program is difficult, the minimum goal is in danger. The trend-setting weeks could also shake up planning for the coming season.
After the final whistle, Nico Schlotterbeck was caught cold for the second time this Saturday evening. The central defender from Borussia Dortmund took part in a live interview after the 0-1 defeat against VfB Stuttgart. He was pissed off. The central defender said that BVB was the “better team”: “Unfortunately, we missed taking advantage of our chances.”
Sky reporter Patrick Wasserzieh put his finger in the wound. “We have to be honest and say that you had the greatest chance. To put it simply, why didn’t you do it?” Schlotterbeck seethed. “That’s actually a stupid question,” he replied and was interrupted by Wasserzieh. “I don’t think they’re that stupid. I just find it simple and accurate,” said the moderator. “I actually thought she was stupid,” Schlotterbeck countered. “Why?” asked Wasserzieh. “Because you may have never played football before,” said Schlotterbeck.
Felix Nmecha (l.) and Nico Schlotterbeck after the defeat against Stuttgart
Source: AP/Martin Meissner
The question-and-answer game in an extremely testy atmosphere was emblematic of the mood in Dortmund. After the 2-0 win in Munich last weekend, the game against VfB, another direct competitor, should be used to put the next exclamation mark in the fight for qualification for the Champions League. It failed despite a good performance in a close, intense game.
BVB lacks efficiency
Coach Edin Terzić’s team didn’t miss much on this emotionally special day – the Westfalenstadion had recently turned 50 years old. Basically just one thing: efficiency. There were only four real chances – of which Stuttgart were able to use their second through Serhou Guirassy in the 64th minute, but Dortmund were unable to use their two opportunities through Karim Adeyemi and Schlotterbeck.
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“I think there’s no question that I have to do it, I know that myself,” said Schlotterbeck after he had calmed down a little. In the 80th minute, Stuttgart’s strong keeper Alexander Nübel was only able to fend off a header from Felix Nmecha. The ball landed directly at Schlotterbeck’s feet – but he was apparently so surprised that his shot was completely missed and the ball went over the goal from a short distance. “I didn’t want it to happen. But that’s football, it’s a game of mistakes, at that moment I made the mistake,” he admitted. Later, in another interview, he described his mood as “heartbroken.”
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Traditional club in crisis
Terzic was nevertheless conciliatory with the unlucky raven. “We don’t blame him, he saved us too,” said the BVB coach. In fact, the former Freiburger, together with Mats Hummels, had formed a very solid defensive block and largely neutralized the feared Stuttgart offensive. In any case, it was a performance that documented that BVB has made a leap forward. Many of the deficits from the first half of the season, which ensured that the team had to spend the winter in the disappointing sixth place in the table, have been addressed and remedied. The structure seems more well thought out, the willingness to run is higher – but it still lacks penetrating power in certain situations.
Dortmund’s minimum goal is in danger
However, this could mean that in the end it will not be enough to achieve the minimum goal: entry into the premier class. On Saturday, Dortmund slipped to fifth place – level on points with RB Leipzig, who won 4-1 at SC Freiburg. Dortmund have a goal difference that is nine goals worse.
“We can read the table quite well and know what our remaining program is,” said sports director Sebastian Kehl. He seemed quite worried. After the trip to Borussia Mönchengladbach next Saturday, we will face the designated champions Leverkusen and Leipzig one after the other. “It is ambitious, but we will fight until the last day. That’s what Borussia Dortmund is all about. We believe that we will make it in the end,” said Kehl. If it doesn’t succeed, it would be a serious blow for the club, both economically and in terms of its self-image.
Sebastian Kehl (l.) and Hans Joachim Watzke – it is still unclear how the BVB management will be staffed in the future
Source: dpa/David Inderlied
There are trend-setting weeks ahead of BVB, who will play the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League at Atlético Madrid on Wednesday (9 p.m., in the WELT live ticker). Particularly with regard to the reorganization of the club management structure. For a long time it looked as if Kehl would be promoted to management at the end of the season. However, this is now open.
New managing director from outside possible
In January, Hans-Joachim Watzke announced that he would step down as CEO at the end of 2025 and hand over overall sporting responsibility by the end of the current season. According to information from WELT, this schedule should remain the same. However: A managing director could also come from outside. Kehl would then remain in his director position.
However, it is extremely likely that Sven Mislintat will return. The former BVB chief scout is to come as a squad planner or technical director – which would make him number three in the internal hierarchy in the area of sports. Mislintat’s return would still have a certain piquancy. Before Kehl became sports director in 2022, Mislintat is said to have had hopes for the position.
