Bundesliga - Borussia Dortmund heavy as lead: "It's hard granite"
Borussia Dortmund's advisor Matthias Sammer suffered in the Augsburg stadium. The lead-heavy runners-up are only dragging themselves towards the redemptive end of the year in the Bundesliga. With a double-digit points deficit to leaders Bayer Leverkusen, Dortmund have long since lost sight of their dream of the championship.
"It all seems very difficult, very forced," said international Julian Brandt after the sobering 1:1 (1:1) draw at mediocre FC Augsburg on Saturday, describing the tormented state of mind at BVB. "It's hard granite that we're biting on at the moment."
Things are only going well for BVB in the Champions League
Dortmund can only find ease through a sense of achievement - but after just one win from their last seven Bundesliga games, they are not getting any in the German elite class. After being knocked out of the DFB Cup, the group winners are only doing well in the Champions League, where the draw for the round of 16 will be made on Monday.
"It's no secret that we did quite well in the Champions League and are finding it difficult in the Bundesliga. We don't want to have any excuses, we want to embrace the whole thing," said coach Edin Terzic three days after the powerhouse performance against Kylian Mbappé's Paris Saint-Germain (1-1).
"We are disappointed, angry and frustrated"
Dortmund's Bundesliga face is pale despite great chances in the closing stages. "We're disappointed, angry and frustrated because we came up two points short," sporting director Sebastian Kehl told journalists after the pale draw in Augsburg. The minimum goal of the Champions League should "not be lost sight of."
That is the lowest common denominator by which Terzic is also measured. However, the wild rumors surrounding the club show just how frosty the atmosphere at BVB is. TV pundit Jan Aage Fjörtoft, for example, circulated speculation on the X platform (formerly Twitter) around Dortmund's passionate Champions League match against Paris that Erik ten Hag, who has been heavily criticized at Manchester United, could become the new coach at Dortmund.
Is something going on with the Man United coach?
Sounds contrived? The story is made more plausible by the fact that Sammer, who watched the bland performance in the Augsburg stadium, and ten Hag know each other. The former international started at FC Bayern as head of sport in 2012, while the Dutchman joined the Munich second team as coach a year later.
Terzic wanted to know how he was supposed to ignore such speculation when asked about it on Sky TV before kick-off. "That's something I can't stop. I can't influence what questions you ask, but I can influence how I deal with them. I'm someone who likes to lead the way. I like to take responsibility and I also like to fight," explained Terzic. What is important to him is what the team and colleagues around him think of him. "And they give me a good feeling," assured Terzic.
Coming to terms with the past against Mainz 05
Whether it stays that way will also depend on the final game of the year. In their home game against FSV Mainz 05 on Tuesday (20:30), Dortmund will be confronted with the championship they lost on the last matchday of last season. However, BVB have already missed their six-point target for the last two Bundesliga games.
"It doesn't help to moan," said Terzic. "It's all about moving forward and accepting the challenge. We will rise to the challenge and hopefully reward our fans with a win in our last home game."
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- In the North Rhine-Westphalia soccer league, Borussia Dortmund is currently struggling, with Matthias Sammer expressing his discomfort during a match against FC Augsburg.
- Despite their difficulties in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund has found success in the Champions League, where they have already secured a spot in the round of 16.
- Julian Brandt, an international soccer player, acknowledged the team's struggles in the Bundesliga, describing their state of mind as "hard granite."
- Dortmund's Bundesliga performance has been lackluster, with just one win in their last seven games.
- After being eliminated from the DFB Cup, Borussia Dortmund's only source of comfort has been their Champions League performance.
- Edin Terzic, the coach of Borussia Dortmund, admitted that the team's Champions League success has made their Bundesliga struggles more challenging.
- Despite the team's disappointments in the Bundesliga, Terzic remains focused on his responsibilities and keeping a positive attitude among his colleagues.
- Wild rumors have surfaced about Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, potentially replacing Terzic at Borussia Dortmund.
- The rumors of ten Hag replacing Terzic are not without merit, as both men have a history with FC Bayern Munich.
- Borussia Dortmund will look to end the year on a high note when they face FSV Mainz 05 in their final Bundesliga home game of the year, hoping to regain some lost momentum.
Source: www.stern.de
