After two defeats in a row Borussia Dortmund will be playing to win against VfB Stuttgart on Sunday. “It is without a doubt a very important game to end our short losing streak,” said the Coach, Thomas Tuchel, the day before the game.

The team has recently been defeated away to Hamburger SV 3-1 in the Bundesliga and 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League against FC Krasnador. However, the Coach does not want to compare the two games. “The first defeat really bothered me, it really stands out,” said Tuchel about the Hamburg game. “The way in which we played there and how we didn’t take our opportunities was a one-off and is being treated as such.”

The game in Krasnador didn’t bother the Coach as much. “I saw lots of things with which I am very pleased. We played skilfully but lost due to bad luck.” However, more would have been possible had we had a better period of recovery. In both games BVB had more shots than their opponent; in Hamburg there were 16 in the second half alone. “You can score more than one goal and that’s what we want”, explained the Coach who praised the goal scoring opportunities and superiority in Krasnador, but stressed nevertheless that “you can accuse us of lack of callousness, just as we are accusing ourselves.”

“You can accuse us of lack of callousness”

On Sunday there is the possibility to do better. VfB Stuttgart is the next opponent who visits Signal Iduna Park and they are taking each day as it comes. Earlier this week the club pulled the plug and released Coach Alexander Zorniger from his duties. Whereas Zorniger was convinced by his offensive style of play and sticking to the rulebook, the interim Coach Jürgen Kramny’s approach is still unknown. “It raises the question whether everything will be completely different or if there will only be a few minor changes,” explained Tuchel. “In any case, it’s a new approach for us,” Match analysis is becoming more individual. Instead of looking at the team as a whole, the Dortmund Coach will look at specific players’ behaviour individually. Even players from Stuttgart’s second team, which Kramny previously trained, will come into the equation and not be overlooked.

“We have to do our best”

Because the information about the opponent is not as detailed as usual, the focus of preparation this time is more on their own performance. Tuchel: “It is pointless to speculate and guess which new tactics the opponent will play. “We have to do our absolute best.”