Mats Hummels looked sullen as a loser and had little desire to whitewash. The 1: 1 (1: 1) over Sevilla lost the chance of early entry into the round of 16 of the Champions League prompted the Dortmund defense chief to criticize words.
“It has to get out of some people’s minds that football has to be sexy. Successful football is not heel-pointe-one-two-three at five meters,” complained the 2014 world champion, referring to the lack of effectiveness. Initially annoyed by the dreary performance against the Spaniards, who had been in trouble for weeks, he attested to Borussia’s “not enough game intelligence”: “Football is actually a simple game, but we always make it complicated ourselves.”
Annoyed bumblebee
The good mood that prevailed three days earlier after the 2-2 in the Bundesliga summit against FC Bayern Munich seemed to have completely evaporated for the 33-year-old veteran. “After half-time we must have lost twenty balls easily. That was completely unnecessary against an insecure team,” Hummels complained in a TV interview on Amazon Prime. Visibly annoyed, he promoted a more effective style of play with fewer flourishes. “I try to communicate that, but of course it’s difficult when you feel like there aren’t enough other people who are able to keep pushing.”
Edin Terzic did not want to contradict this scolding of the Dortmund substitute captain. “Those are words that have left my mouth before. It’s important to me that the word was there. We just have to play football much more precisely and effectively,” commented the football coach after the game with the guests’ opening goal by the former Munich Tanguy Nianzou (18th) and the equalization of Jude Bellingham (35th).
Like Hummels, Terzic also mourned the missed opportunity to go into the two remaining group games against Manchester City (October 25) and FC Copenhagen (November 2) without pressure: “It was pretty tough. That’s why we have to go with them today live this draw.”
Süle encourages team discussion
Complaints were not only made by Hummels. Because BVB once again had to concede a goal from a standard, national player Niklas Süle suggested a discussion in the team: “That’s a problem. We have to get together because it has a lot to do with attitude.” Another shortcoming has become the lack of penetrating power in the attack. Nine Bundesliga clubs have scored more goals this season than BVB, which has been famous for its offensive power for years.
Midfielder Julian Brandt hopes to improve on Sunday in the tricky game at leaders 1. FC Union Berlin, who are already four points behind: “With regard to Sunday, too, it’s really an issue to create more chances. We have to increase the chance of scoring goals achieve.”
BVB still on course
But despite all the disappointment about the unnecessary detention in the fight for entry into the Champions League round of 16, BVB seems to be on the right track to avoid an embarrassing first round elimination like last year. As second in the table behind the already qualified favorites Manchester City (10), the advantage over the pursuers from Seville (2) and Copenhagen (2) is at least five points. “Of course we wanted to fix it today. But we still have a good starting position,” said Süle. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was just as confident: “Of course it would have been nice to make it clear today. But then we’ll do it in the next few games.”
