Nico Schlotterbeck, a defender for Borussia Dortmund, has shared his thoughts (via @bvbnewsblog) following the club’s 2-2 draw with Norwegian team Bodo Glimt in the Champions League.
Dortmund took the lead twice thanks to Julian Brandt, but each time they failed to maintain it, with former Eintracht Frankfurt player Jens Petter Hauge netting the equaliser in the 75th minute.
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Reflecting on the match, the 26-year-old made a candid remark:
“What do you mean bitter? At half-time, I noted that after going up 1-0, we played extremely nervously, making very poor first touches. Everyone seemed to be playing individually. Substitutes were losing possession frequently. It’s crucial to have a winning mentality to close out the game, and we failed to do that completely. Instead, we opted for flashy play—trying to lob the ball or dribble past opponents—and that simply isn’t enough.”
He further emphasized:
“We’re in the Champions League, and this performance is unacceptable. We could potentially accumulate 13 points. Some may not realize how significant that is. It’s not just disappointing; it’s quite poor. Finishing the game off is about quality. If you can’t do that, and fail to clear the ball from a throw-in when you’re outnumbered, you end up with a 2-2 result—and that’s not good enough. I made sure to communicate this loudly to the team at half-time.”
Impact of the Performance on Dortmund
Currently, Dortmund sits 10th in the table, just one point shy of the top eight. Winning this home match would have placed them in the automatic qualification spots for the next round.
Next, they face Tottenham in London, followed by a match against Inter Milan at home to conclude their league phase.
This performance may also influence Schlotterbeck’s situation. His contract situation remains unresolved, and if Dortmund continues to struggle to contend for titles, it could lead Schlotterbeck to reconsider his future options.
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GGFN | Jack Meenan