Edin Terzic sounded as if Borussia Dortmund had already lost the race for the German championship. The BVB coach felt “anger” and “disappointment” after the turbulent 3:3 (2:0) including a goal conceded in the seventh minute of injury time at VfB Stuttgart, threatened with relegation. “Unnecessary” and “stupid” he called the recent setback in the Bundesliga title fight. Sometimes the 40-year-old sounded like he was close to tears. Then he gave himself a jerk again.
“There is still so much that is worth fighting for,” emphasized Terzic, looking at the table. In second place, Dortmund are two points behind leaders FC Bayern Munich. Nothing that couldn’t be made up for in the remaining six matchdays. BVB has to process the late shock from Stuttgart first. Once again he failed to qualify for the title, and once again he threatens to end up empty-handed.
His team must “finally start learning from these unnecessary setbacks and not let it happen again,” Terzic demanded for the end of the season. The coach is no longer as protective of his players as he has been for a long time. On Saturday he was reminded of the memorable game against Werder Bremen in August, in which his team had led 2-0 up to the 89th minute and then lost 2-3.
“Then you thought, now you’ve seen everything in football. It can’t get any worse – and then comes today,” said Terzic. Instead of drawing level with Bayern on points, Borussia threw away a great opportunity against ten bravely fighting Stuttgarters. As so often since the eighth and so far last championship title in 2012. What they experienced in the second half shook both Terzic and sports director Sebastian Kehl to the core.
“There are reasons why we haven’t managed to be at the top in the last ten years,” said Terzic. “There’s a reason I’ve been criticized a lot over the last few weeks for being very humble about the situation we’re in.” Already at the break, when his team was leading 2-0 in Stuttgart and was outnumbered because of the yellow-red card against VfB defender Konstantinos Mavropanos (39th), he pointed out that the opponent only had one chance, again to come back into the game: “Then when we lose discipline.”
And Dortmund lost discipline – when they had possession of the ball, when they lost the ball and when they were defending. They still had two hits on the crossbar, but in many duels they no longer had the necessary bite. “That must not happen,” emphasized midfielder Salih Özcan and spoke of a perceived defeat.
After goals from Sébastien Haller (26′) and Donyell Malen (33′), BVB conceded the equalizer through Tanguy Coulibaly (78′) and Josha Vagnoman (84′). Even after Joker Giovanni Reyna (90. 3) ensured the lead again, it wasn’t enough to win. The supposed salvation was followed by the 3: 3 defeat by Stuttgart’s Silas (90.7) right in the middle of the master chants of the BVB fans. “Frustration” and a “certain aggressiveness” felt head of sport Kehl. You’ve “broke a lot.”
Bayern, who have been restless for weeks, blundered again in the 1-1 draw against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – but BVB couldn’t take advantage of it. “If we don’t win the games, we can also forget to look up to see how Bayern play,” said Özcan. Despite their brilliant race to catch up with eight wins in the first eight league games of the year, Dortmund are ultimately in danger of being without a title again. Terzic in particular suffered at the thought of what the BVB wages might be.
He referred to Haller’s illness and other personnel concerns in the first half of the season, slipping to sixth place before the winter break. “With a lot of hard work and a lot of anger” the preparations started in January, explained the coach. “Then we put ourselves in the starting position we’re in right now – and then we’re just giving it away today.” Dortmund is in shock. First the title dream in Leipzig burst, now the next trauma in the league is threatening.
